Scotland is located in Europe and is part of the broader United Kingdom. In march 2006 a ban on smoking in public places was introduced in Scotland as part of the ongoing European wide smoking cessation interventions and policies. The legislation which banned tobacco use in public places covered bars, restaurants workplaces and such other establishments. The research which revealed the success of the smoking band was a follow-up to the 2006 law.
It noted that the rate of hospital admissions for childhood asthma had sharply fallen since the introduction of the law. Amongst other dangers of second hand smoke derived from public smoking is asthma. This specifically affects children. Other effects of tobacco smoke to non-smokers who are exposed on a constant basis will include cancers and other life long ailments which may be respiratory in nature. The dangers of public smoking are behind the intense international quest spearheaded by WHO to reduce and control tobacco use.
The researchers note that the Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act of 2006 has been extremely successful in its primary aim of reducing exposure to environmental tobacco smoke in public places. The particularly celebrate the fact that the law has reduce the exposure of children to environmental tobacco smoke despite concerns of smoking being displaced to the home. The study dine by the researchers in Scotland focused on collecting routine hospital administrative data. This data ascertained hospital admissions for asthma.
The research data collected from the hospital showed that before the smoking ban asthma admissions in hospitals were on the raise by an average 5.2 percent each year. Once the new law was implemented the researchers found that the rate of hospital admissions fell by some 18.2% per year going forward. These rates also covered kids of preschool and school-age. This outcome is one amongst many that confirm the effectiveness of smoking cessation policies that many countries across the world are swiftly implementing. Banning smoking in public places is an important intervention in stopping smoking endeavors.
However the researchers in Scotland noted that the study had some limitations particularly the fact that information regarding individual smoking status was not available and whether the observed reduction in asthma was a result of reduced exposure to environmental tobacco smoke in the home, reduced exposure to second hand smoke in public places or a reduction in teenage tobacco use. However a number of factors that included age group, sex, urban or rural residence had no effect on the outcome.
The positive reports coming out of Scotland are just a part of a global outcome of aggressive anti-tobacco campaigns. Despite these efforts, policy strategies will be required to continue changing if governments are to totally outwit the tobacco industry which is clearly determined to continue expanding its market especially amongst young people.
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