Campaign to help smokers stub out habit

Nottinghamshire County Council is supporting the hard-hitting new national “Smokefree Health Harms” campaign with the help of local expert stop smoking advisors, highlighting the health damage done by smoking.

The New Year is traditionally a time when smokers commit to giving up. In the first three months of last year, 3,358 smokers in Nottinghamshire County set a date to give up the habit with the help of Local Stop Smoking Services. Two weeks into the New Year is often when quitters going it alone turn to professional support to help them on track.

This year the authorities are hoping to reduce the numbers of smokers from 29% in both Mansfield and Ashfield and improve health and wellbeing outcomes as a result.

Stop Smoking Advisor for New Leaf Helen Shrives, said: “Making that decision that you want to stop smoking is the big first step, we know that it can be a bit daunting though, and that’s why we are here to help. Stopping smoking is quite a personal thing so we offer lots of different ways to give up – depending on what works best for you – talk to an advisor to discuss your options.”

Evidence shows smokers are four times more likely to be able to quit successfully with Local Stop Smoking Services, who can be contacted through your GP, local pharmacist, or by calling New Leaf on 0800 389 7712. Anyone looking to quit can also visit www.nhs.uk/smokefree.