Smoking soars among girls from poorer areas

THERE has been a massive increase in the number of young girls from low-income backgrounds taking up smoking, the Irish Cancer Society (ICS) warned yesterday.

The ICS said the highest smoking rates were among younger people and in lower socio-economic groups.

Norma Cronin, the society’s health promotion manager, said the self-esteem of women from less well-off areas must be boosted to help them give up cigarettes.