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Stoptober is back, and we’re calling on England’s smokers to join millions of others who have quit successfully with the campaign.
Over 5 million adults in England still smoke. Smoking causes 75,000 deaths a year, making it the biggest cause of preventable illness and death. Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health. The good news is, if you quit smoking for 28 days, you’re five times more likely to quit for good.
Going ‘cold turkey’ is still the most common way that people attempt to give up, but quit attempts are successful more often when using quit smoking support.
That’s why this year’s Stoptober campaign is encouraging smokers to quitting this October by exploring the free support available. We want aspiring quitters to know that we have their back and by taking part in Stoptober, they are more likely to succeed.
There’s a wide range of free quitting tools available, including the NHS Quit Smoking app, the Personal Quit Plan, expert support from local stop smoking services and a Smokefree Facebook support group. There’s also lots of information about aids such as nicotine-free medicines, nicotine replacement therapies and vaping, available at nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking. Together, we can do this.
Further information and support
NHS Quit Smoking App
Get our free NHS Quit Smoking app on the Apple App Store or Google Play. Based on a 28-day programme, it helps you:
Track progress
See money saved
Get daily support
Better Health Quit Smoking
Find NHS-trusted advice, support and quit smoking benefits on the Better Health Quit Smoking website available here.
Free Personal Quit Plan
Answer a few simple questions to find the right support for you in a free Personal Quit Plan. Get your plan here.
Smokefree Quit Smoking Support Group
Join the friendly and supportive Smokefree Quit Smoking Support Group on Facebook and connect with over 50,000 members also giving up smoking.
Essex Wellbeing Service: Stop Smoking Support
Essex Wellbeing Service’s Stop Smoking services are free and available to everyone living or working in Essex (excluding Southend and Thurrock).
They’ll support you in finding the right treatment, advice and support in various locations across the County including GP surgeries, pharmacies and specialist clinics.
Stopping Smoking Fact Sheet | Action on Smoking and Health (ASH)
Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) is a public health charity set up by the Royal College of Physicians to end the harm caused by tobacco.
This fact sheet reviews the best ways to quit smoking and the health benefits that come along with it. Stopping smoking is always beneficial to heath and it is never too late to quit. Every cigarette smoked damages the lungs in a way that may not show until later in life. After the age of 35-40 years, for every year of continued smoking, a person loses about 3 months of life expectancy.
