A NEW report has shown that of smoking is on the rise in Hampshire.

New figures from the Office of National Statistics report, Smoking inequalities in England, 2016, shows around 6.3 million people aged 18 and over in England smoked in 2016, and that across Hampshire the percentage of people smoking is increasing.

In Gosport, 15 per cent of the population smoked in 2015, rising to almost 22 per cent in 2016 according to figures. Similarly in Fareham, just 7 per cent of people smoked in 2015, rising to almost 11 per cent in 2016.

The New Forest also saw a rise in the percentage of population now classified as smokers, from 11 to 14.

However, Southampton, Eastleigh and Winchester all had a lower percentage of the population in 2016 who smoked compared to the previous year.

The news comes as a concern to Dr. Derrani, group medical advisor and consultant psychiatrist at the UK’s leading addiction treatment firm UKAT.

“Nicotine is what is known as a Gateway Drug. It’s a stimulant that releases the ‘feel-good’ neurotransmitter Dopamine, which in turn, produces physical and mood-altering effects in the brain that are temporarily pleasing. In the long-term, stopping smoking causes withdrawal symptoms like irritability, anxiety, reduced concentration, increased hunger and at times, anger and disturbed sleep.

“Although the general public does not classify smoking in line with the other drugs associated with addiction, the consequences and effects on health are no different.”

Eytan Alexander, Founder of UK Addiction Treatment centres warned: “The vast majority of people treated across our seven UK rehab centres for drug and/or alcohol addiction also smoke cigarettes. Today’s ONS figures paint a worrying picture that if smoking is on the rise in areas like Hampshire, we could see a rise in substance abuse.”

80,000 people die from smoking every year, and is one of the most common causes of heart disease, strokes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cancers of the throat, mouth and lungs.