Newham has the fifth lowest child smoking rate in the country, new data has revealed.
Just 4.3 per cent of 15-year-olds in the borough admitted to having smoked before, according to vapourlites.com which analysed data from NHS Digital’s Statistics on Smoking England report for 2017.
The lowest rates were found in Brent (4.2pc), Slough (4pc), Enfield (3.5pc) and Redbridge (3.4pc).
Brighton and Hove had the country’s highest number of young smokers at 14.9pc, with Richmond upon Thames scoring a close second at 14.3pc.
Vapourlites managing director Charles Bloom said: “Statistics like these prove there is a need for more preventative measures and support, in relation to young adults and smoking.
“Children should feel like they have an alternative outlet, to talk through how they feel and to gain relevant information; providing the tools for individuals to build their own path, away from the lure of addictions like cigarettes.”
“We are yet to surpass smoking as an issue and so often it starts with young people – it would be foolish to overlook it.”
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