Renewed push to help more Scots finally stub out their smoking habit
Anational campaign to encourage more Scots to finally stub out their smoking habit has been stepped up to take advantage of New Year resolutions.
A new slogan – ‘Quit Your Way – with our support’ – was created after research by Health Scotland found smoking cessation services should have one national identity to improve uptake.
NHS Inform’s Smokeline has already rebranded as Quit Your Way Scotland and all health boards will have adopted the identity by Stop Smoking Day on 15 March.
Cigarette smoking is the world’s leading cause of preventable poor health and premature death. Official figures show that in Scotland tobacco use is associated with over 10,000 deaths and around 128,000 hospital admissions every year.
In 2013 the Scottish Government set a target to reduce smoking prevalence in Scotland to 5 per cent or less by 2034.
Public health minister Aileen Campbell said: “We know lots of people are making new year’s resolutions – to get fit, to be more healthy or perhaps to give up smoking. And with stop smoking services now accepted as being twice as effective as do-it-yourself, there’s no better time to highlight the free support the NHS can offer.
“This is a real team effort – with NHS Scotland services, pharmacists and third sector partners all working together we can help more people to stop smoking and continue to make progress towards our ambition of creating a tobacco-free generation by 2034.
“Stopping smoking is one of the most important steps a person can take to improve their health – so I’d urge anyone who has been thinking about giving up to take that first step and quit their way.”
Chief executive of ASH Scotland Sheila Duffy said: “New Year is a time when many people choose to make a fresh start, and it’s a great time to quit smoking. There is no one way that works for everyone but your GP, pharmacist or the Quit Your Way Scotland website can offer free advice tailored for you that might really help.
“Don’t be discouraged if you’ve tried to quit before, it can take a number of attempts to stop smoking successfully.”
0 Fewer Scots are smoking