Stoptober campaign tours North East to spread the word about new quitting drive
SMOKERS in the North East have been invited to join the hundreds of thousands of people gearing up for Stoptober – the nation’s biggest ever quitting campaign.
Fresh took the big red Stoptober stop sign and Stoptober space-hoppers on tour across the North East with help from quitters and staff from NHS Stop Smoking Services, local authorities, GPs and pharmacists to encourage smokers to join in and give quitting a go.
Stoptober is a new 28 day initiative from the Department of Health and supported by Fresh, encouraging the North East’s 460,000 smokers to make a quit attempt starting on October 1st.
Research shows those who stop smoking for 28 days are five times more likely to stay quit. Friends, families, employers and work colleagues can also make a real difference to support people to stop for the whole of October and beyond.
People will be able to take advantage of more free support than ever, including a Stoptober kit, a daily messaging service and quitting app for PCs and smartphones. To register all you have to do is click on smokefree.nhs.uk/Stoptober/
Ailsa Rutter, Director of Fresh, said: “Tens of thousands of people in the North East have stopped smoking in the last few years and it shows quitting can be done. Knowing that thousands of other people are quitting too is a great incentive.
“Some people manage to quit smoking on the first attempt and for others it takes a few goes – but Stoptober is a great time for everyone to give it a try. Stopping for a month is a great achievement and really boosts your long term chances of staying quit.
“If you smoke there’s countless reasons to stop. You will feel better in yourself, lower your chances of a serious smoking related disease like lung cancer, and have much more money in your pocket.
“There are more tools than ever before to help quit for good, as well as the excellent support from the effective NHS Stop Smoking Services in the North East.”
The new campaign is also supported by the Stoptober app (available free via Smartphone) as well as the Stoptober Facebook page with additional tips and advice.
Benefits of quitting
• Reduce the risk of a serious smoking related disease from middle age
• You’ll improve your general fitness
• You’ll save hundreds if not thousands of pounds for nicer things
• Your skin and teeth will improve
• You won’t smell of smoke
• If you smoke indoors, you’ll protect loved ones from poisonous smoke
Dr Fu-Meng Khaw, Director of Public Health, Newcastle PCT and Newcastle City Council, said: “I’m delighted that Newcastle City Council is lending its support to Stoptober. One of the hardest things about giving up smoking is the feeling that you are on your own. Stoptober is the first national quit attempt, and that means there is more support out there than ever. If you can give up for a month, you are much more likely to quit for good – improving your life and the lives of everyone around you.”
Cllr Linda Marshall, JP, Chairman of Durham County Council, said: “Anything that assists in quitting smoking has my full support. Stoptober is a wonderful initiative which hopefully will prove a success.
“Major progress has, and continues to be made in this region in smoking prevention and statistics support the North East has had the biggest drop in England.
“Yet 11 people still die daily and around 13,000 children annually require medical attention from breathing in other people’s smoke. Therefore, awareness remains the key as we strive to eradicate smoking completely.”
Councillor Brenda Thompson, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive Member for Public Health and Sport, said: "More people than ever before are quitting smoking, and the support is there for those who want to make this life-changing decision.
"Stoptober is a great idea – it gives people a goal that’s not too daunting, but which might just change their lives for the better.
"And if they can manage to stay smoke-free for just 28 days, they have a much greater chance of making the break a permanent one."
To find out more about Stoptober visit www.smokefree.nhs.uk/stoptober or for help to quit smoking visit your local stop smoking service or call NHS Smokefree on 0800 022 4 332.