Quit smoking for good with Mallow course

A COURSE aimed at helping women quit smoking once and for all is set to start in Mallow later on this month.

‘We Can Quit’ is an initiative of the Irish Cancer Society in partnership locally with the Le Cheile Family Resource Centre and the Mallow Community Health Project.

The 12-week programme is free of charge and will offer the opportunity for women over the age of 18 to join forces and support each other in their efforts to give up smoking.

Participants on the programme will receive one-to-one support during the groups sessions in addition to being offered 12-weeks of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT).

Eimear Cotter, community cancer prevention officer with the Irish Cancer Society, said research has shown that smokers who use a combination of group support and two NRT products for a 12-week period are four times more likely to quit and stay smoke-free for good.

“Giving up smoking is extremely difficult and can prove to be a huge challenge for people. However, over the last three-years more than 150 woman have completed the course,” said Eimear.

“More importantly, many of them have managed to successfully quit smoking for good as a result of this initiative, so we know that the programme works,” she added.

For further details on ‘We Can Quit’ and to sign up for the programme, which will commence in Mallow on Wednesday, September 18, contact Eimear Cotter on 021 432 4521 or by email at ecotter@irishcancer.ie.