Even though many people have stopped smoking, the number of young people who smoke occasionally increases daily. This is shown in the recent report “Tobacco in Norway” from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI). It is especially young men who have acquired this habit, the report shows. A full 19 percent of this group answered that they smoked occasionally. This is the highest figure that FHI has recorded since the measurements on the smoking habits of Norwegians began in 1973. Fewer women Among young adult women, the figure was slightly lower, with 13 per cent saying they smoked occasionally. The findings must be seen in the context of the fact that there are fewer and fewer people who smoke daily, believes senior drug and tobacco researcher Tord Finne Vedøy at FHI. Researcher Tord Finne Vedøy at FHI believes it is difficult to know what is needed to reduce occasional smoking among young people. Photo: Lin Beate Gabrielsen / news – It is plausible to believe that this distribution to some extent reflects that occasional smoking is considered more acceptable than daily smoking, says Vedøy. Last year, only one per cent of young adults aged 16–24 said they smoked daily. In the city, there have therefore become more people who smoke now and then. – An illusion – There is an illusion of control by only smoking occasionally. An illusion that it is not so dangerous. That is not true, says pulmonologist at Sørlandet Hospital, Frode Gallefoss to news. He says that there is no safe lower limit for smoking. Smoking one to five cigarettes a day poses a greater risk of early death than stopping smoking altogether. – It is much more dangerous to smoke a little than not to smoke at all. The biggest risk is heart and vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, warns Gallefoss. Pulmonologist Frode Gallefoss says it is much more dangerous to smoke a little than not to smoke at all. Photo: Lars Gunnar Eie / news Samansett Those who smoke occasionally are a composite group, says Vedøy. – Some are on their way out of daily smoking and are cutting back. Others are on their way into daily smoking without even knowing it. They start with occasional smoking and slip into daily smoking, says Vedøy to news. He believes it is difficult to know what can be done to reduce occasional smoking, because the picture is composite. – We know that a good number of young people who start out as occasional smokers quit after a few years. There are very different intensities in smoking. Some smoke a lot occasionally, others very little, says Vedøy. Neither does Gallefoss have a good explanation for the development, but I think we may be facing combination effects. – There are some who both snuff and smoke, or both smoke and use e-cigarettes. You get more nicotine-addicted young people via e-cigarettes and snuff, which in some people can lead to occasional smoking, says the pulmonologist. Correction: In an earlier version of this story, the reference to young adults who smoke daily was incorrect. This is now correct.
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– Much more dangerous to smoke a little than not to smoke – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
