MPs will consider harms, including addictive behaviours, in the
next stage of their major inquiry into
preventing ill-health. On the agenda, the effectiveness of
regulation and messaging around harms caused by alcohol, drugs,
gambling and smoking – factors that contribute to poor
health.
, Chair of the Health and
Social Care Committee, said:
“We are all too aware of the harms, including addiction, that can
be caused by alcohol, drugs, gambling and smoking. The
government’s plans announced in the King’s Speech to introduce
legislation to create a ‘smoke-free generation’ are welcome news.
However, that won’t safeguard the current generation of children
who will continue to be affected by parents who smoke, for
example.
“If you drink alcohol regularly, are you aware of the risks to
your health? If you smoke, gamble or use drugs? We’ll be
considering what responsibilities those industries share, and
where the government needs to step in to encourage change across
the population and prevent ill-health caused by alcohol, drugs,
gambling and smoking.
“We’ll question the impact of public health messaging on avoiding
harmful behaviour that contributes to poor health and consider
the effectiveness of existing regulation.”
ENDS
Several evidence sessions are planned in this third workstream of
the inquiry which is examiningten themes on preventing
ill-health. The committee’s report and government response on the
first theme, vaccination, can be found here. The role of
healthy places was the second theme to be examined which included
the impact of poor housing.
Further information
- The ten workstreams: alcohol, drugs, gambling and smoking;
mental health and wellbeing; healthy eating and obesity; health
inequalities; sexual health; early years and childhood; cancer
prevention; prevention of other major conditions; vaccination;
healthy places.
- The chosen themes were selected from more than 600
submissions from researchers and organisations involved in
preventative healthcare.
