Addiction journal
Addiction journal
Hidden populations in household surveys on smoking prevalence with Emma Beard
Hidden populations in household surveys on smoking prevalence with Emma Beard
Hidden populations in household surveys on smoking prevalence with Emma Beard
Friday 6th June 2025
Explore the hidden population's impact on UK smoking statistics with Dr Emma Beard's research insights.
13 minutes
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Addiction journal
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Navigating Alcohol Dependency
Understanding Addiction & Recovery
Navigating Intimate Relationships
Family Recovery from Addiction
Nutritional Pathways to Recovery
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Get the buttons here!Unveiling Hidden Smokers: A Closer Look at UK Smoking Statistics
Episode Overview
- Hidden populations are often excluded from surveys.
- High smoking rates among these groups can skew statistics.
- Workbook method helps estimate hidden populations.
- Findings suggest UK's smoking prevalence may be underestimated.
- Inclusive data collection can influence policy decisions.
Almost 2% higher prevalence than what is generally estimated.
In this intriguing episode of Addiction Audio, Dr Tsen Vei Lim chats with Dr Emma Beard from University College London about a topic that’s often overlooked in household surveys: the hidden population. You might wonder, who exactly falls into this category? Well, it’s those folks who aren't captured by traditional surveys – people in detention centres, care homes, hostels, and even those experiencing homelessness.
These groups often have high smoking rates, and Emma’s research suggests that excluding them could lead to an underestimation of smoking prevalence in the UK. Emma explains the 'workbook method' used to estimate the size of these hidden populations and their smoking habits. Her findings reveal that around 1.9 million adults – about 3.5% of the UK adult population – are part of this hidden group, with smoking rates between 58% and 66%.
Compare that to the general population’s estimated smoking rate of 13%, and you’ve got quite a discrepancy. The episode goes on to discuss the implications of these findings, suggesting that UK smoking prevalence might be nearly 15% when accounting for the hidden population. Emma shares her surprise at discovering an additional million smokers not accounted for in official statistics. So, why should you tune in?
This episode sheds light on the importance of inclusive data collection and how it can influence policy decisions. It’s a must-listen for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of addiction statistics and their real-world impact. Grab your headphones and get ready to learn something new!