Cypriots start smoking at 18, 38% smoke e-cigarettes

People in Cyprus generally start smoking at 18, the Cyprus National Addictions Authority said quoting a 2023 general population survey.

In a press release marking World No-Tobacco Day, the Authority said that about four in 10 smokers (or 38%) have smoked e-cigarettes during the last month.

In relation to 2019, it added, a significant number of smokers have tried e-cigarettes, at a rate of 57% compared to 21%.

On the basis of the most recent student population survey ESPAD 2019 which concerns students 15 and 16 years of age, 14% of respondents said they had smoked conventional cigarettes in the previous month as opposed to 18% in 2015 and 23% in 2011.

Unfortunately, however, the Cyprus National Addictions Authority notes, Cypriot students seem to rank high compared to the rest of Europe in the use of e-cigarettes and hookah. About 4.6% of students reported daily use compared to 3.1% which is the European average according to ESPAD.

Bearing in mind the data at hand and the negative impact of smoking on public health Head of the Authority Christos Mina said that it continues its campaign against smoking which focuses this year on young people.

Cyprus Association of Cancer Patients and Friends (PASYKAF) also referred to the results of the ESPAD 2019 appealing to decision makers to "take action now" and noting that it continues its systematic actions to deal with addiction caused by smoking in line with World Health Organisation policy.

PASYKAF also says that there are programmes in place by the Mental Health Services and the State Health Services Organisation (OKYpY) across Cyprus offering support and medicine to people wishing to quit smoking.

People interested to be informed about them or to quit smoking can call the free helpline 1431 which operates Monday to Thursday between 07:30 and 15:00.

It further quotes data according to which in 2023 468 people, 309 men and 159 women, took part in the programme, 252 of whom completed it successfully and stopped smoking.