Decreases passive smoking by the antitobacco law and maintaining the number of smokers.

-La antitobacco law reduces to a 21% passive smoking

-the majority of smokers are in favour of the new law

-1 every 3 smokers have tried to quit following the introduction of the new law, but they have only hit 6%

Madrid, February 2012.- study on smoking liabilities 2011 done by SEPAR (Spanish society of Pneumology and thoracic surgery) with the collaboration of Almirall, pointed out that current legislation Spanish on tobacco (Act 42/2010 of 30 December, amending law 28/2005)(, December 26) has managed to reduce the exposure to the smoke of tobacco from the Spanish by 17 percentage points. In 2007, 38% of the Spaniards was subjected to polluted air by tobacco smoke and at the present time, it is 21%. But the worrying figures are found in the number of smokers, which stabilizes; in the failed attempts of smokers who try to give up smoking and the exposure of children to smoke tobacco in their homes. These are the three challenges that professionals in health care and the Administration have now on the table ”, says Dr. Juan Ruiz Manzano, President of SEPAR.

According to the 3rd study on passive smoking, the total number of smokers has gone from 21.2% of the population before the application of the first law of 2005 (law 28/2005 of 26 December, health measures against smoking, and regulating the sale, supply, consumption and advertising of tobacco products), a current 17,65%. But it is worrying to note that the number of smokers has increased 0.50% compared to the previous study of 2007 ”, explains Dr. Juan Antonio Riesco, Vice-President pulmonologist of SEPAR and scientific coordinator of the three SEPAR smoking studies carried out in 2005, 2007, 2011, along with Dr. Carlos Jiménez.

Spaniards smoke an average of 12 cigarettes a day and smoke more men than women. One in three respondents (27% of smokers) has tried to quit smoking since the implementation of the last Anti tobacco law. 14% Returned to smoking in less than 24 hours and 72 per cent went to the first me. It is remarkable that only 12 per cent tried with medical help. Smoking is addictive illness, the first cause of preventable death. It is essential that a smoker you want to quit smoking have sufficient health resources and support to achieve success in the abandonment of this addiction ”, believes Dr. Riesco.

Decrease in passive smoking

This study of the SEPAR Yes pointed out the existence of a clear decline of passive smoking, and thus demonstrating that legislation on tobacco is positive. In Spain has gone from having a 49.5% of nonsmokers exposed to the smoke of tobacco (before the 1st law), to 21% in the current time. Very significant is that since the implementation of the new law in early 2011, the percentage of passive smokers has fallen by 17 percentage points ”, explains Dr. Carlos Jiménez, Coordinator of the SEPAR smoking area and scientific coordinator of the three SEPAR smoking studies carried out in 20052007 and 2011, along with Dr. Juan Antonio Riesco.

Is positive that we have found significant reductions in exposure to tobacco smoke both in schools and in the workplace. However, not everything is good news, then, found that more than 50% of children under 13 years of age are subject to air polluted by smoke tobacco in their own home. These numbers speak to Spanish smokers should be sensitized and try not to smoke in their homes in the presence of minors ”, believes Dr. Jiménez Ruiz.

most striking has been the decline in workplaces and entertainment venues, possibly because of the more restrictive nature of the second law, which strictly prohibited smoking. In workplaces has gone from 26% (before the 1st law), 6% in December 2011.

In relation to the entertainment venues, understanding as such the bars, restaurants and nightclubs, is has gone from 375 to 12% (following the introduction of the second law). According to Dr. Jiménez, these reductions are very positive, but also demonstrate that the law is not fulfilling 100%. Exposure to the air polluted by tobacco smoke, says Dr. Jiménez Ruiz, in restaurants is 3%, in bars goes up to 7% and in the halls of fiestas and discos reaches 11% ”.

Knowledge and opinion of the new rules on tobacco

Although still 1 of every 10 smokers surveyed said not knowing the new law, 65% of these are shown for it, with 83 percent of former smokers, and 93% of non-smokers.

The study has also revealed that 81% of non-smokers, 75% of the quitters and 35% of smokers find it more convenient to go to the bars. Also attend most bars 17% of non-smokers and 14 per cent of the quitters.

New study on passive smoking

These figures have been released from the preparation of the 3rd study on passive smoking, made by SEPAR after one year of the entry into force of the law 42/2010 of December 30, 2010. The 1st study on passive smoking was carried out just before the entry into force of law 28/2005 and the second study developed a year later.

The objective of the current study has been to know the percentage of non-smokers who are exposed to tobacco smoke, and the impact of the new regulations on smoking in Spain ”, explains Dr. Carlos Jiménez Ruiz.

Finally, adds Dr. Jiménez Ruiz who study allows to know the portrait robot of the Spanish passive smoking: is a man not smoker of approximately 34 years old living in an urban environment and that, above all, is subjected to air polluted by tobacco smoke in the home.

Almirall

Almirall is an international pharmaceutical company based on innovation and committed to health. With headquarters in Barcelona (Spain), Almirall researches, develops, produces and sells drugs own r & d and licensing with the aim of improving the health and well-being of people. The therapeutic areas in which concentrates its resources in research are related to the treatment of asthma, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), gastrointestinal disorders, psoriasis and other skin complaints forms. Almirall drugs are now present in more than 70 countries. It has direct presence in Europe and Latin America through subsidiaries 12.