Will you kick the habit this month?

Thursday 02 October 2014

Almost a quarter of adults in Jersey are still smoking and the habit is causing one in six deaths in Islanders over the age of 35 so the local service which helps people to stop are urging people to try and quit this month.

Over 100 smokers tried to give up during last year’s “Stoptober” campaign and a third of them who had got support from Help2Quit were still off the cigarettes a month later – which according to evidence made them five times more likely to quit for good.

Public Health England’s campaign is now in its third year and this October Jersey’s Stop Smoking Service wants to encourage more smokers to turn to the 19 local pharmacies now offering support around the Island.

Research shows that smokers are up to four times more likely to quit with support and by using approved stop smoking medication and anyone who stays smoke free for four weeks can now get extra support and treatment.

Boots Pharmacist Melanie Boleat said: “Smokers using the service have told us they would like to receive more support and we are delighted to be able to extend the local service offered to help raise the number of successful attempts to quit.”

Help2Quit coordinator Dr Rhona Reardon said: “There is good evidence for providing a longer support programme in addition to more nicotine replacement therapy.

Smokers wanting to find out more are urged to call the Help2Quit Freephone number on 0800 735 1155 or they can get advice from their nearest chemist.

You can find out more about “Stoptober” at www.gov.je/Health/Hep2Quit and www.smokefree.nhs.uk/stoptober