Tobacco research
The Sheffield Addictions Research Group has an increasing focus on tobacco research, with a commitment to conducting policy-relevant research that can inform evidence-based interventions. Our work spans several key areas:
Modelling and policy evaluation
- Smoking prevalence and national smoke-free targets: Using the Sheffield Tobacco and Alcohol Modelling Platform (STAPM) we develop sophisticated models to project smoking prevalence and assess the impact of various tobacco control policies, such as pricing and smoke-free environments. Our work has directly influenced policy decisions in England and Scotland and is being extended to Wales.
- Economic impacts of tobacco control: We quantify the economic benefits of tobacco control policies, including increased tax revenue, improved worker productivity and reduced healthcare costs.
- E-cigarette research: We investigate the role of e-cigarettes in smoking cessation, focusing on accessibility, affordability, and potential harm reduction.
Supporting smoking cessation
- Flexible stop smoking services: We evaluate innovative approaches to deliver stop smoking support, including hospital-based services and integration with other healthcare settings.
- Smoke-free outdoor spaces: We conduct research to inform the implementation of smoke-free outdoor spaces, including university campuses and public areas.
Understanding behavioural complexity
- Behavioural modelling: We use advanced modelling techniques to understand the complex behaviours that drive smoking cessation and relapse. This research aims to develop more effective personalised interventions.
By addressing these critical areas, SARG contributes to the development and implementation of evidence-based tobacco control policies that can help reduce smoking rates and improve public health.
Related news
New project aims to embed youth voices in local tobacco and vape policymaking
A collaborative project emphasising the crucial role of young people's voices in shaping public health policy has been awarded funding from the NIHR School for Public Health Research (SPHR).
Minimum pricing for tobacco could help to reduce smoking rates in Scotland, new research suggests
New research from the Sheffield Addictions Research Group has assessed the potential effectiveness of minimum pricing policies for tobacco that could help reduce smoking rates and improve health in Scotland.
Get in touch
Contact Dr Duncan Gillespie to talk about our tobacco research.
Tobacco projects and other research
Evaluating Sheffield City Council's smoking cessation incentive scheme for priority groups
This project is evaluating Sheffield City Council's smoking cessation incentive scheme for priority groups, aiming to assess its effectiveness and inform future service improvements.
Supporting tobacco and vaping policymaking by including youth voices in local authority responses to new national legislation (STAR)
The STAR project aims to understand how local authorities can effectively incorporate youth voices in the development of policies related to the new national tobacco and vaping legislation.
SPIRE
'Scoping of Policy Impacts for Regulating E-cigarettes (SPIRE): a data and decision analytic model mapping project' aims to learn what type of research about vapes would be most useful for policy making, what data already exists to go into this type of analysis and what new data are needed.
Local Health and Global Profits
Working alongside local governments, local populations, public health practitioners and civil society groups, the Local Health and Global Profits project aims to understand the building blocks, including commercial factors, impacting on communities' health.
Policy Research Unit in Addictions
NIHR Policy Research Units (PRUs) undertake research to inform government and arms-length bodies making policy decisions about health and social care. The units create a critical mass of experts for research in priority areas for health and social care policy.
QUIT Programme Evaluation
Yorkshire Cancer Research commissioned the Sheffield Centre for Health and Related Research (SCHARR) at the University of Sheffield to carry out a comprehensive evaluation of hospital-based stop smoking services in the region, starting with the Quit programme.
STAPM
The Sheffield Tobacco and Alcohol Policy Modelling Platform (STAPM) research programme aims to identify and evaluate approaches to reducing the harms caused by tobacco and alcohol consumption. By providing policymakers with evidence-based insights, STAPM seeks to improve public health policymaking and commissioning.
Targeting multiple levels of 'the smoking cessation system' using novel scientific approaches
This programme will develop and apply novel scientific approaches to increase the population rate of smoking cessation.
SPECTRUM
The SPECTRUM Consortium is a multi-university, multi-agency research consortium focused on the commercial determinants of health and health inequalities, funded by the UK Prevention Research Partnership.
Evaluation of the North Yorkshire County Council Living Well Smokefree Service
This mixed-methods evaluation explored the feasibility and acceptability of a hybrid smoking cessation service (one which offers remote, face-to-face and blended provision).
Smoke-Free University Initiative
The Smoke-Free University Initiative is supporting the co-development of a University of Sheffield smoke-free policy with university and community stakeholders
SYNTAX
The SYNTAX project aimed to provide evidence and tools to inform the potential scale of effects of taxation across tobacco and alcohol as an intervention to improve public health and reduce health inequalities in the UK.