Stop smoking for Stoptober and you’re five times more likely to stop for good

Fresh and South Tyneside Council are supporting Stoptober and encouraging people across South Tyneside to join the tens of thousands of people quitting this October.

More than five million adults in England still smoke and smoking causes 64,000 deaths every year, making it the biggest cause of preventable illness and death. Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health.

To help people stop smoking the annual campaign challenges smokers to go smokefree for 28 days. Research suggests that smokers who complete the challenge are five times more likely to quit for good .

Ahead of the campaign launch, Fresh took the Stoptober banner out across the region to town centres and well-known North East landmarks.

In the North East, Fresh’s Smoking Survivors campaign is running from September 16 and throughout Stoptober as a powerful call to people in the North East who smoke to put smoking behind them and make a fresh quit for their health and their family. In their own words and striking medical footage, former smokers and their families speak of the devastating impact on their health, finances and their families.

Many people try to quit smoking with willpower alone, but it's much easier to go smokefree with the right help such as quitting aids, local stop smoking services or switching entirely to vaping. People can visit FreshQuit.co.uk for a full list of North East stop smoking services and advice on quitting.

Ailsa RutterOBE, Director of Fresh and Balance, said: “Most people who smoke regret ever starting – it damages health and costs tens of thousands of pounds to smoke over a lifetime. Smoking has killed over 125,000 people in our region since the year 2000 alone.

“The good news is that thousands of people every year successfully manage to quit smoking and have a better life by putting smoking behind them. Just breaking down your quit attempt into 28 days might feel less daunting. And once you’ve done that, you can tell yourself you are well on the road to staying quit.

“Don’t ever give up on quitting even if you don’t succeed first or second time. Keep trying - next time it can be different.”

Councillor Ruth Berkley, Lead Member for Adults, Health and Independence at South Tyneside Council, said: “More and more people in South Tyneside are quitting smoking and we have some of the best quit rates in the country. We are determined to give people all the help and support they need to stop for good.

“With the launch of family hubs throughout South Tyneside which offer stop-smoking services, we are now able to reach more people than ever before.

“Stoptober is the perfect time to stop smoking. You will feel healthier and wealthier as a result. With the support on offer, we’re encouraging everyone who smokes to give it a go!”

For support to quit in South Tyneside call 0191 4247300 or visit https://www.southtyneside.gov.uk/article/3119/Support-to-quit-smoking.