Free help to quit available to Suffolk’s 87,000 smokers this New Year

Make 2015 the year that you’ll quit smoking for good – that’s our message to the county’s smokers, urging them to make a New Year’s resolution to kick the habit.

In Suffolk it’s estimated that 87,000 people smoke but we will be helping them quit for good with our latest county-wide campaign, ‘1,000 Smokers Wanted’.

Henry Tapp is the Lead for Live Well Suffolk’s stop smoking services. He said: “We’ll be on hand this New Year to help people take the first steps towards a smoke free lifestyle. We will work with clients on an individual basis to work out the best method of quitting for them and help them with the practicalities of quitting, like how to deal with cravings and how to avoid weight gain. Our stop smoking support is completely free, so there’s nothing stopping you from giving quitting a try.

“Trying to give up smoking is one of the most common New Year’s resolutions that people make, but often they don’t succeed. Quitting is tough, and we don’t want people to think that just because they’ve tried and failed in the past, they can’t try again. With our help, smokers are four times more likely to successfully quit than they are if they go it alone.”

The message coincides with today’s launch of a new hard-hitting national stop smoking advertising campaign. The ‘Health Harms’ initiative from Public Health England (PHE) is highlighting how smoking damages the body and causes a slow and steady decline in a process akin to rotting. While many smokers are aware that their habit damages their heart and lungs, a new PHE report has shown that that it also damages their bones, muscles, brain, teeth and eyes.

As well as improving your own health, quitting smoking will also help to improve the health of your family members too as they won’t be breathing in second-hand smoke. Children who live with smokers are also four times more likely to become smokers themselves.

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in Suffolk and an estimated one in three people in the county die every day from smoking-related causes. It also costs almost £195 million every year in the county through lost productivity, cost to the healthcare service and other related factors.

Our stop smoking support is completely free and is delivered by fully trained advisors. We offer group or one-to-one sessions at a time and location to suit you. To sign up to our 1,000 Smokers Wanted campaign, text QUIT to 80011, call 01473 229292 or visit www.livewellsuffolk.org.uk.