Help at hand to give up

Next month’ is Stoptober – the now traditional month in which smokers are being encouraged to give quitting another go – even if they’ve tried before.

And for the launch of Stoptober in Sunderland some feelgood facts have been issued to help smokers think again about stubbing out their habit.

Figures released by antismoking group Fresh ahead of this year’s Stoptober campaign show that in 2017 nearly 400,000 smokers in England quit successfully, which is the equivalent to 1,069 smokers each day or one person every 80 seconds.

Despite new smokers starting and ex-smokers relapsing, North East smoking rates have fallen by 44% since 2005, when 29% of North East adults smoked dropped to 16.2% of people in 2017 – about a quarter of a million fewer people smoking.

And new non-smoker Wearside dad Nathan Freeman is proof that you can give up the weed.

Nathan, 48, says he had already feeling ‘immense’ benefits to his health after stubbing out the habit.

And he says that it is easier than ever to kick cigarettes after receiving a lot of help through his pharmacy.

“In the past, I had thought that I could just stop on my own, but this time I decided to get some support. The staff at the pharmacy have been excellent and understand what you are going through.

“I find the weekly checks are good for my motivation and there is also financial assistance with nicotine replacement therapies, such as nasal sprays, which I found helpful.”

Councillor Geoffrey Walker, portfolio holder for health and social care at Sunderland City Council, said: “Stoptober has helped more than one million people quit, and is the biggest mass-quit attempt.

“It provides a great opportunity for people who want to quit to start their journey.”

Smokers. why don’t you go give giving up a go next month, there’s never been as much help at hand.