Tobacco dependence in pregnancy: Short-life working group report September 2026

Tobacco dependence continues to be one of the most important preventable causes of harm for pregnant women and their babies, and lung cancer is now the most common cause of premature death among women in Scotland. Providing effective treatment for tobacco dependence in pregnancy is therefore both a maternal and child health priority and an opportunity to improve women's health more broadly.

Around eight in ten women give birth at some point in their lives, meaning maternity services reach a large proportion of the population. Ensuring high-quality treatment for tobacco dependence in pregnancy is therefore a practical opportunity to improve health and reduce inequalities at scale in Scotland.

This short report looks at what helps, and the barriers to, providing effective treatment for tobacco dependence during pregnancy. It also sets out practical actions that can be taken now to improve treatment and, in doing so, improve health outcomes and reduce health inequalities in Scotland.

This short report looks at what helps, and what gets in the way of, providing effective treatment of tobacco dependence during pregnancy. It also sets out practical actions that can be taken now to, improve treatment and in doing so, improve health outcomes and reduce health inequalities in Scotland.