Start the New Year smoke-free

Bury’s Stop Smoking Service is getting ready to help local residents make a tobacco free start to 2014.

Smoking remains the biggest cause of premature death in Bury, accounting for more than 300 deaths a year, with half of all local smokers dying prematurely from a smoking related disease.

There are more than 30,000 smokers in Bury and the Stop Smoking Service helps hundreds of people quit smoking every year and knows how challenging it can be. Over the last three years, around 3,000 people have successfully broken the habit to become smoke-free.

The Greater Manchester Health Bus will be visiting Bury and Radcliffe every Friday in January and February where staff will provide stop smoking advice and support.

Lesley Jones, Bury’s director of public health, said: “There is a huge amount of free help available to those who wish to stop smoking; from face-to-face support and Quit Kits to a smartphone app and even supportive daily emails and text messages, all of which improve your chances of quitting for good.

“The New Year is the perfect time to make a resolution to improve your health, and giving up smoking is the single best way to do it.”

The initiative is part of a new hard-hitting advertising campaign by Public Health England, which shows the damaging effect that toxins from smoking have on the blood, lungs, heart and brain.

Tobacco smoke contains toxic chemicals including carbon monoxide and formaldehyde, increasing a smoker’s chances of having a heart attack or a stroke. The average smoker is three times more likely to have a stroke than a non-smoker. 

For free confidential advice and support, contact Bury Stop Smoking Service on 0845 223 9001 (calls charged at local rate), or email pcn-tr.bury-stopsmoking@nhs.net  Alternatively, call in to your local pharmacy or search nhs.uk/smokefree for a range of free support and resources to help you quit in 2014.

ENDS

Press release issued: 2 January 2014.