Take the steps to quit smoking for good and mark the 40th anniversary of No Smoking Day next Wednesday 13 March.
This No Smoking Day, North Warwickshire Borough Council is promoting the well-known awareness day to encourage residents not to give up on quitting and make use of the variety of free stop smoking support available to across the county.
Smoking remains the single largest preventable cause of death in England, with smokers also twice as likely to develop dementia. Cigarettes contain harmful chemicals which are bad for your brain, so smoking not only increases your risk of dementia, but one in two smokers will die early due to their smoking. This No Smoking Day is a reminder that quitting is the best thing you can do for your health.
Smokers can access support across Warwickshire via the quit4good website which details where and how to access stop smoking services. Alternatively digital support is available through the NHS stop smoking app, providing daily support and tracking to monitor progress.
NWBC also supports the introduction of the new Government ‘Swap to Stop’ programme. Swap to Stop offers smokers over the age of 18 access to support to quit with the help of vape ‘quit kits’ and access to 12 weeks of behavioural support and stop smoking treatments.
Nicotine vapes are one of the most effective stop smoking aids and are substantially less harmful than smoking because they do not contain tobacco. Almost two-thirds of people who use a vape along with support from their local Stop Smoking Service successfully quit smoking. Vaping is already estimated to contribute to an extra 50,000 – 70,000 smoking quits per year in England.
Councillor Margaret Bell, portfolio holder for Adult Social Care and Health at Warwickshire County Council said:
“Smoking has a huge impact on an individual’s health and stopping can reduce your risk of developing dementia, heart disease, cancer and stroke. We know that it’s much easier to stop smoking when you get the right support.
“In Warwickshire, there are lots of options to choose from, including the addition of the free vaping quit kits, which are helping lots of Warwickshire residents to go smokefree for good in 2024.
“No Smoking Day is the perfect time to take the first step and begin your quitting journey along with many others, whilst being supported and reassured by professional stop smoking advisors along the way.”
The benefits of stopping smoking don’t just stop at your health. Smoking is also the biggest cause of accidental fires in the home, often because of people being careless when smoking in bed or not taking care extinguishing their cigarettes properly after drinking alcohol.
Start your journey to quitting this #NoSmoking Day.
Smokers can call 0333 005 0095 or text ‘QUIT’ to 60777 to access additional stop smoking support such as, talking directly to stop smoking advisors either over the phone or video call, support via text messages or as part of a virtual support group. More information is available on the Quit4Good website.
Pregnant people who smoke can receive dedicated advice from Warwickshire’s experienced and friendly advisors who are on hand to help beat the addiction with support and guidance. To find out more call 07917 227 004, email ssip@swft.nhs.uk or visit the Quit 4 Baby website.
As many as 4 in 10 cases of dementia are linked to risk factors that we can change, including quitting smoking. To find out more, visit the Living Well with Dementia website.
Although vaping has fewer risks than smoking, it is not risk free, therefore the advice is if you don’t smoke, don’t vape. Vaping myths and the facts - Better Health - NHS (www.nhs.uk)