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** 7 February 2025
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** UK
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** Biodegradable cigarette butts could help tackle plastic pollution (#1)
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** Concerns raised over number of children vaping in schools (#2)
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** £5,000 worth of illicit vapes and tobacco seized in York (#3)
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** Links of the week
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** DHSC press release: Local public health services given £200 million boost (#4)
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** ASH Blog: Heated tobacco ads are everywhere – how are tobacco companies getting away with it? (#5)
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** Update: DHSC’s smoking profile tool (#6)
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** Update: NICE guideline on preventing uptake, promoting quitting and treating tobacco dependence (#7)
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** Vacancy: KCL Research Associate (#8)
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** UK
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** Biodegradable cigarette butts could help tackle plastic pollution

A British innovation developed in Leeds could play a key role in reducing plastic waste from cigarette butts, one of the most littered items in the UK. Campaigners are urging the government to mandate the use of biodegradable alternatives by amending the forthcoming Tobacco and Vapes Bill. Traditional cigarette filters, made from plastic-based cellulose acetate, take years to break down, contribute significantly to environmental damage and costs local councils an estimated £40 million to clean up. The proposed amendment, tabled by Conservative MP Dame Caroline Dinenage and supported by Labour MP Mary Glindon and Lib Dem Dr Danny Chambers, aims to enforce a transition within a year. Public support for the measure is strong, with polling showing widespread agreement across demographics. If adopted, the UK’s move could influence global cigarette production standards. The amendment is set for debate later this month.

Source: Independent, 6 February 2025

See also: Keeping Britain Tidy – Smoking-related Litter: secondary research review ([link removed] Smoking Related Litter Secondary Research Review October 2022.pdf)
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** Concerns raised over number of children vaping in schools

The Welsh government has raised concerns about children starting secondary school already using vapes. Health Minister Sarah Murphy highlighted the issue while giving evidence to the Senedd’s health committee ahead of the ban on single-use vapes, set to take effect on 1 June 2025. Some teachers have reported pupils are struggling to concentrate in class and even leaving lessons multiple times to vape. Murphy stressed the need for government and Public Health Wales support to help young people quit, rather than schools resorting to exclusion policies. A report last year recommended treating youth vaping as a dependency issue rather than a disciplinary matter.

Source: BBC News, 6 February 2025

See also: Public Health Wales - Vaping amongst Children and Young People in Wales ([link removed]) | ASH - Use of vapes (e-cigarettes) among young people in Great Britain ([link removed])

Editorial note: The number of children starting secondary school vaping is extremely low, with only 1% of 11-year olds, the age at which children start secondary school, reporting using vapes in 2023 and only 9% considering vaping okay. All percentages include those who are defined as regular users, using a vape once a week, and occasional users who have vaped more than twice in total. You can find the national statistics for England and Wales here ([link removed]) .
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** £5,000 worth of illicit vapes and tobacco seized in York

A recent raid in York has resulted in the seizure of illegal tobacco and vaping products worth approximately £5,000. Police and Trading Standards officers discovered counterfeit and non-compliant vapes, along with illicit cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco, at a business in Clifton. The confiscated items included 177 non-compliant vapes, 2,250 counterfeit cigarettes, and 1.45 kg of illicit tobacco.

Source: BBC News, 6 February 2025
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**
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** Links of the week
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** DHSC press release: Local public health services given £200 million boost

The Government has announced a nearly £200 million increase in funding for local public health services as part of its broader health reform strategy. The funding, which raises the Public Health Grant to £3.858 billion, an uplift of 5.4%, which aims to support services such as smoking cessation, addiction recovery, family and school nurses, and sexual health clinics. The investment is part of the government’s Plan for Change, which focuses on prevention and community-based care, rather than hospital treatment, in an effort to build a more sustainable NHS and improve long-term health outcomes.

The funding was welcomed by both the Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) and the Local Government Association (LGA). You can find the ADPH response here ([link removed]) and the LGA response here ([link removed]) .
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** ASH Blog: Heated tobacco ads are everywhere – how are tobacco companies getting away with it?

This blog, written by John Waldron, Policy and Public Affairs Manager at ASH, discusses a recent BBC investigation which uncovered the way that tobacco companies are continuing to promote Heated Tobacco Products (HTPs) in retail stores, despite a 2018 government directive to cease these activities. The blog details what HTPs are, how they are being promoted by industry and what the law says is legal, as well as what is being done by government to address tobacco product promotion and marketing.
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** Update: DHSC’s smoking profile tool

The Local Tobacco Control Profiles (LTCP) have been renamed to the Smoking Profile. The profile now includes new indicators, available at England and regional level, outlining the number of regular and occasional e-cigarette users, and smokers among 15-year-olds. New data has also been added on smoking prevalence for this age group.
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** Update: NICE guideline on preventing uptake, promoting quitting and treating tobacco dependence

NICE have reviewed the evidence for cytisinicline, also known as cytisine, as a medicinally licensed product. NICE have also made other recommendations, including updates to existing guidance on stop-smoking interventions and pharmacological support during pregnancy.

See also: ASH - Webinar: Varenicline and cytisine ([link removed])
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** Vacancy: KCL Research Associate

King’s College London have released a Post-doctoral Researcher post within their Policy Research Unit (PRU) in Addictions. This is a full-time post; job shares and part-time appointments will also be considered. The post is based at King’s College London and the successful applicant will work in the Nicotine Research Group. The closing date for applications is the 20 February 2025.
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**
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For more information email [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or visit www.ash.org.uk
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ASH Daily News is a digest of published news on smoking-related topics. ASH is not responsible for the content of external websites. ASH does not necessarily endorse the material contained in this bulletin.

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