World No Tobacco Day: Increase in use of roll your own tobacco

The Institute of Public Health in Ireland is reporting less than one in five adults in Ireland are exposed to second hand smoke daily.

On 'World No Tobacco Day' the groups most recent report is warning there are still challenges to protecting children from exposure to second hand smoke in the home.

Figures from the Health Behaviour in School Aged Children survey shows 17% of 10 to 17 years olds say adults are allowed smoke inside their home.

IPH Director of Policy Dr Helen McAvoy is optimistic there has been a reduction to exposure to young people in cars.

"Around 19% of 10 to 17 years olds stating that they were exposed to second-hand smoke in the car, now those figures did precede the introduction of the legislation on smoking in cars... so we would hope to see some reduction of that over time," she said.

Meanwhile over the last 12 months over 6,000 people in Ireland have passed away from a Tobacco related illness, according to the WHO.

Martina Blake is HSE lead for Tobacco Free Ireland and outlines what the HSE is calling for: "We're launching a report called roll your own and the main aim is to highlight the fact that we have seen an increase in the consumption of roll your own tobacco products.

"From 4% in 2003 to almost a quarter of all smokers smoking roll your own cigarettes in 2014, and we know that roll your own tobacco and all tobacco is very damaging to peoples' health," she said.