Stoptober is back, calling on smokers in England to join more than 2.5 million others who have made a quit attempt with the campaign since it launched a decade ago in 2012. Nearly 6 million adults in England still smoke, and it remains the single biggest behavioural cause of preventable death, with 64,000 deaths a year.
This year's Stoptober mass quit attempt is as important as ever, with quitting being one of the best things a smoker can do for their health. That’s why this year’s Stoptober campaign is encouraging smokers to join the thousands of others who are giving quitting a go for the month of October.
Susan Van de Ven, Vice Chair of Adults and Health Committee for Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “It’s never too late to quit smoking. You will notice immediate improvements to your health when you stop. Going 28 days smoke free means you’re five times as likely to quit for good. Quitting will allow you to start moving better, breathe more easily - and give you more money to spend. We also have local expert support from Healthy You Stop Smoking Service which will give people the best chance of success.”
Quitting with others, together with the range of support offered, means that Stoptober can trigger resolve and boost confidence, motivation and readiness, making smokers realise that they are stronger and better prepared than they think and setting them up for long term success.
Stoptober offers a range of free quitting tools including: the NHS Quit Smoking app, Facebook messenger bot, Stoptober Facebook online communities, daily emails and SMS, and an online Personal Quit Plan tool. It provides information and advice on proven quitting methods - expert support from local Stop Smoking Services and the range of stop smoking aids, including further information on how vaping can help you quit. Just search ‘Stoptober’ for more information or visit www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking.
Alternatively, the Healthy You Stop Smoking Service provides free advice, support and encouragement to help you stop smoking for good. You will receive 12 weeks of support from your own stop smoking specialist who will work with you to design your own personalised quit plan. This includes advice on choosing a suitable stop smoking medication and information on how to manage cravings and withdrawal symptoms. To sign up for free support visit: healthyyou.org.uk/sign-up or call 0333 005 0093.
