Smokers Encouraged to Quit in Tenth Year of Stoptober

SMOKERS in South Tyneside are being encouraged to take part in Stoptober....the 10 year anniversary of the nation's biggest quitting campaign. It comes as new research shows more than half of smokers want to quit, and three quarters would never have started smoking if they could go back in time. 

Fresh and South Tyneside Council are backing people to join in and stay quit for 28 days, feel fitter and healthier and enjoy more money in their pocket.

With quitting support and loads of free tools to quit, like the new Stoptober app, it is easier than ever to join the 2.3 million others who have made a quit attempt with the campaign since it launched a decade ago in 2012. 

In the North East smoking rates have fallen from 22..1 per cent of adults smoking in 2012 - then around 459,000 adults, down to 15.3 per cent of of adults smoking - around 325,000 people - a fall of around 134,000 fewer adults smoking.

However, over 6 million adults in England still smoke, and it remains the leading preventable cause of premature death, causing almost 75,000 deaths a year.

Councillor Anne Hetherington, South Tyneside Council's Lead Member for Independence and Wellbeing, said:"It is good news that South Tyneside has some of the best successful quit rates in the country. Throughout the pandemic stop smoking services have been maintained, albeit in different ways, to offer support to people trying to tackle their tobacco addiction in challenging times.

"Despite good progress, it is a sad fact that smoking is still the leading preventable cause of ill-health in South Tyneside.

"Quitting is the single biggest thing that you can do to improve your health and there is no better time to quit than during Stoptober.

"I would encourage all people who smoke to get involved in the campaign and join the thousands of others in the Borough who have quit for good. You will feel healthier and wealthier as a result.

"For more help and advice, visit www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking/"

Ailsa Rutter OBE, Director of Fresh and Balance, said: "The North East has seen massive progress over the last decade with fewer adults and children smoking. Most smokers wish they had never started and do not want their own children to smoke.

"On the one hand it is fantastic to see that millions of smokers have tried to quit in the last decade. However smoking is still our biggest cause of avoidable illness and death and has killed over 113,000 people in the North East since the start of the Millennium.

"As we go into the winter, we are all conscious of the need to stay fit and healthy and not place ourselves at an additional risk of ill health. Smoking harms your fitness and your lungs, and increases the risks of influenza, cancer, heart disease and stroke.

"The important thing is to never ever give up on quitting smoking or think it is too late - no matter when you quit, it brings important health benefits at any age."

Search 'Stoptober' now for a full range of quitting support options such as the free NHS Quit Smoking App or find your local stop smoking service.