Delighted to announce the launch of The Smokers' Survey.
The survey is funded by Forest. The research however is being carried out independently by the Centre for Substance Use Research.
We're very keen that as many smokers as possible take part so here's the blurb we're sending friends of Forest this morning:
ANTI-SMOKING campaigners like to bombard politicians and the media with 'facts' about smokers.
The most common 'statistic' is that 70 per cent of smokers want to quit. More generally they like to give the impression that most smokers wish they'd never started.
Some smokers probably do fall into one or both of those camps and if you want to quit smoking or switch to a safer alternative such as electronic cigarettes, good luck to you. That's entirely your choice.
But it's not the full story. Despite the well-known health risks many smokers say they enjoy smoking and have no wish to stop. Sadly their voices are usually drowned out by politicians, the public health industry and even the media who all think they know better.
To find out what smokers really think about these and other issues the Centre for Substance Use Research (CSUR) in Glasgow has designed an in-depth survey.
It includes questions about your experience of smoking and how you feel about the habit.
It asks whether you feel stigmatised for smoking and what impact quitting would have on you.
The survey also asks about your experience (if any) of NHS stop smoking services and new tobacco or nicotine products such as e-cigarettes.
Most important it invites you to say whether or not you enjoy smoking.
You don't have to answer any questions you don't want to. All the information you provide will be kept completely anonymous and stored securely.
Depending on the number of submissions we receive the plan is to publish a report that will be free to download and will be made available to a wide range of interested parties.
"The Smokers' Survey," says Neil McKeganey, director of the Centre for Substance Use Research, "is a way of getting the voices of smokers heard above the clamour for ever greater regulation."
We can't do that without your help so if you're a smoker please complete and submit the survey as soon as possible.
Thank you in advance!