Smoking rates across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight remain low as ‘not smoking’ becomes the new norm across the region.
Despite smoking rates being lower than ever before – 12.3% on the Isle of Wight – thousands still smoke so Public Health England (PHE) is promoting the return of Stoptober to encourage smokers to try and end their bad relationship with smoking.
PHE is encouraging all smokers to join in with the nation’s biggest quit attempt beginning on 1st October by providing them with the support and information they need to “split up” with smoking this Stoptober.
Jason Mahoney, health & wellbeing programme lead at Public Health England South East said:
“Stoptober is a perfect time for smokers to try and end their harmful relationship with smoking – however many times they may have tried in the past. The annual campaign provides the perfect opportunity for family, friends and colleagues to work together towards quitting smoking for good.
“Now more than ever before there are a host of quit smoking aids and free support services available. I would encourage anyone thinking of quitting to visit the Stoptober website, make a plan and commit to quit with Stoptober. Evidence shows you are more likely to quit with support from a local stop smoking service than if you try to go it alone.
“The biggest cause of preventable deaths in England is smoking and no matter how long a person has smoked, quitting really is the best thing a smoker can do for their health. By committing to quit you will join thousands of smokers across the South East this Stoptober who want to make a positive change to their health.”
The campaign will target all smokers with new creative content highlighting the benefits of “breaking up”, urging them to re-evaluate their bad relationship with smoking and “split up” this October. The creative will feature across digital, radio and out-of-home advertisements throughout the campaign period to help keep smokers motivated during their quit attempt.
Stoptober has supported over 1.9 million people on their quit journey to date – if a smoker can make it to 28 days smokefree, they are 5 times more likely to quit for good. Stoptober’s free quitting support includes the Stoptober app, Facebook messenger bot, daily emails, a Personal Quit Plan and Stoptober online communities.
TV presenter, Nadia Sawalha who is supporting Stoptober said:
“I always knew smoking was bad for me, but I was addicted. I loved cigarettes and for years I used to joke that giving up smoking was like giving up a bad boy lover. You think you’re having the best of times, but the truth is deep down you know they’re no good for you.
“After several attempts I did succeed and ended my relationship with smoking and I’m so pleased I did, the feeling of being smokefree and no longer feeling guilty about smoking is amazing, and I couldn’t have done it without the support of my family and friends who helped me resist the urge to turn back to cigarettes if I was stressed or upset.
“I’d encourage anyone thinking about quitting to give Stoptober a go and see if they can split up with smoking for 28 days.”
Where do people get these figures from pure speculation it seems to me. In all my many years how do they know whether I smoke or not answer is they don’t and will not until they ask me