Is it time to consider the sociology of nicotine addiction? Smoking and social disadvantage

Abstract

It would appear that policies attempting to solve the problem of high rates of smoking among disadvantaged groups must look at solving problems of institutional poverty and the existential suffering that comes with unemployment, and absence of meaningful activity and sense of social contribution, stigma and social exclusion. These concerns arise in addition to the clear weight of evidence that exists about the physical health inequalities that exist for such disadvantaged groups when compared with others in the community.