Smokers in England are being urged to stub out the habit as part of the annual Stoptober public health campaign, which is live throughout October.
Latest statistics show smoking costs the NHS £2.4 billion a year and causes at least 15 types of cancers, including lung cancer and acute myeloid leukaemia.
Stoptober – now in its 11th year – aims to empower people to give up smoking during October. Evidence shows people are five times more likely to quit for good if they can make it to at least 28 smoke-free days.
Research shows that self-confidence is a major factor in successful attempts at quitting smoking. This year’s campaign encourages people to take simple steps to help build their confidence and get the support they need from family and friends, as well as professional help, to stop smoking for good.
Despite smoking rates declining, nearly six million adults in England still smoke. Smoking remains the single biggest cause of preventable illness and 64,000 deaths in England a year.
Action on Smoking & Health estimates the annual cost of smoking to productivity is £13.2 billion per year, with the cost to society in England being approximately £17 billion a year. Analysis from HM Revenue and Customs shows the average smoker saves around £2,000 a year when they quit.
Dr John Park, Consultant in Respiratory Medicine and Lung Cancer at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust says: “If you are a smoker, quitting is one of the best things you can do for your health, allowing you to start moving better, breathe more easily – and giving you more money to spend.
“Quitting with others, together with the range of support offered, means that Stoptober can boost confidence, motivation and determination to quit, setting you up for long term success.”
Watch former Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer James Jordan, NHS psychiatrist Dr Max Pemberton, and stop-smoking professional Louise Ross discuss how to quit smoking – and how confidence, determination, and support play a major part in this success.
Stoptober offers a range of free quitting tools including the NHS Quit Smoking app, Facebook online communities, daily emails and SMS, an online Personal Quit Plan, as well as advice on stop smoking aids, vaping to quit smoking, and free expert support from local Stop Smoking Services. Just search ‘Stoptober’ for more information.
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Issued: 3/10/22