Believe in yourself – North East smokers encouraged to quit this Stoptober

1st September 2022

THOUSANDS of North East smokers will be giving it a go this week for the start of Stoptober. Get through the next 28 days without smoking and you’re FIVE times more likely to stay quit.

North East councils and Fresh are encouraging people to believe in themselves and get the right support to make quitting less stressful as quit attempts get underway from October 1.

It comes as latest statistics show smoking costs the NHS £2.4bn a year while causing at least 15 types of cancers, including lung cancer and acute myeloid leukaemia. Over 1.5m people in England also need social care because of life altering diseases from smoking.

Stoptober is now in its 11^th year. Research shows that self-confidence is a major factor in successful attempts at quitting smoking. But there has never been more support to stop – from quit aids and nicotine replacement products, switching to vaping or getting local stop smoking support.

Smoking is still the UK’s biggest killer and cause of ill health. Over 113,000 people have died from smoking in the North East since the year 2000.

Ailsa Rutter OBE, Director of Fresh and Balance said: “Most people who smoke have tried to stop before and regret ever starting. This Stoptober is a chance for a new start. Believe in yourself and get the right support to beat the cravings – it can make all the difference.

“There are so many benefits to quitting smoking. Within weeks you feel fitter and can breathe easier. But as the weeks and months go by you reduce the risks of a life-altering disease.

“Within a few weeks you can feel calmer and less stressed. Quitting is also good for your family finances – it might not solve your money worries but it will ease them.”

Smoking remains the single biggest cause of preventable illness and death in England. According to estimates by Action on Smoking and Health, the annual costs of smoking to productivity are £13.2 billion; treating illnesses associated with smoking also costs the NHS £2.4bn a year, with the wider cost to society in England being approximately £17bn a year.

To help launch the campaign and encourage smokers to drop the habit, a new film has been released this year featuring former Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer James Jordan, who opens up about his recent journey to quit the habit, having smoked for 27 years. He speaks to ex-smoker and NHS psychiatrist, Dr Max Pemberton, and stop smoking professional, Louise Ross, about the importance of self-confidence when quitting smoking, as well as getting the right support.

Former Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer James Jordan said: “I consider myself a confident person in most areas of my life, but have always faltered with smoking, so thought I wouldn’t be able to quit. I smoked for 27 years. My quitting journey has shown me that I am more capable than I thought, thanks to the support of my own family and friends and the professional help I sought.

“Quitting smoking can improve your health, quality of life and save you money. I am so glad I took this step and had the chance to speak to the brilliant experts to give myself and others the confidence that quitting smoking, even if you’ve been smoking for decades, is possible.”

Most smokers say they want to quit, and latest statistics show more than a third of smokers (36.6%) tried to quit in the last 12 months.

Emeritus Professor Behaviour Scientist at UCL Prof. Robert West said: “What is really interesting is just how much of an impact self-efficacy, that sense of self-belief and confidence, has on quitting success. That confidence is something we can really help to influence. It really does show the power of the mind – self-belief when combined with other quitting aids such as vapes or NRT effectively equip people in giving up.

“What people considering quitting this Stoptober should also bear in mind is that even if you’ve tried to quit before and not managed it, that doesn’t mean it won’t work this time. You will have learnt something from your previous attempts: think of each quit attempt as a stepping stone to becoming smoke free for life.”

Stoptober offers a range of free quitting tools including the NHS Quit Smoking app, Facebook online communities, daily emails and SMS, an online Personal Quit Plan, as well as advice on stop smoking aids, vaping to quit smoking and free expert support from local Stop Smoking Services.

Public Health and Mental Health Minister Dr Caroline Johnson said: “Smoking is extremely addictive and can have devastating health impacts in the long term. As a paediatrician, I have seen first-hand that smoking addiction usually begins in childhood, and once started it is very difficult to quit.

“We are determined to support people to stub out the habit, so it is fantastic to see the return of Stoptober, equipping smokers with the tools and confidence they need to go smoke free.”

Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England Dr Jeanelle de Gruchy said: “Smoking is a major cause of ill health, cancer and disability in England.

“Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health, please give it a go this Stoptober.”

NHS psychiatrist Dr Max Pemberton said: “As a doctor and an ex-smoker myself, I always urge my patients to quit smoking wherever possible as we know all too well how every cigarette smoked damages the lungs. I also know first-hand how much healthier and full of life I am after quitting now that my lungs have had a chance to clear.

“What is of particular interest to me as a psychiatrist is how much of an impact individual confidence has on attempting to quit. I want to help everyone feel confident in their own ability to quit, feeling that they can access the vast amount of support out there, so they are set to give quitting smoking a shot this Stoptober.”

For free support to quit this October, search ‘Stoptober’.