South Tyneside mum speaks about her experiences ditching cigarettes and encourages others to kick the habit in 2021

Smokers in South Tyneside are being encouraged to start afresh and make 2021 a healthy year by getting support to quit their habit.
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With fewer people smoking in the borough than ever before, and Covid-19 still at large, there has never been a better time to kick the habit.

South Tyneside has seen smoking rates fall significantly in recent years (with the number of pregnant women smoking almost halved), largely as a result of effective local stop smoking services.

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By using these services - based in GP surgeries, pharmacies, children’s centres, education settings and community facilities - residents are three times more likely to quit than going it alone.

Jill Moore is encouraging borough residents to follow her lead and quit smoking in 2021Jill Moore is encouraging borough residents to follow her lead and quit smoking in 2021
Jill Moore is encouraging borough residents to follow her lead and quit smoking in 2021

Jill Moore, from Whitburn, managed to quit with help from her local GP surgery.

She followed a 12-week course of Champix tablets, which help to relieve cravings and other withdrawal symptoms associated with giving up smoking.

Jill, 55, a mum to two grown-up children, said: “In the past I’d tried everything from patches to chewing gum and vapes but none of it worked.

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“If there are people out there finding it hard to quit, I’d encourage them to keep trying.

“With the right help and support you will find what works for you and you won’t look back.”

She added: “I don’t think you realise how much you spend on cigarettes when you do smoke, but to put it simply, there’s now an extra £600 in my bank every month, which is just amazing.

“Sometimes when I was feeling stressed I’d be having up to 20 a day. You find the money somehow. I used to just stick it on my card and get 60 at a time, but that builds up.”

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Councillor Anne Hetherington, Lead Member for Independence and Wellbeing, said: “While quitting smoking is never easy, it is the single biggest thing you can do to improve your health. With the pandemic still very much at large in our communities smokers now face a double whammy.

“Smokers are more at risk from developing complications with Covid-19 as it affects the respiratory system.

"There really has never been a better time to stop smoking so I would urge people to reach out for support and make 2021 a turning point for a healthier future.”

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