Stop smoking for Stoptober and you’re 5 times more likely to quit for good
Stoptober is back, calling on smokers in England to join the 2.5 million others who have made a quit attempt with the campaign previously.
More than 5 million adults in England still smoke. Smoking causes 64,000 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.
When you stop smoking, good things happen
When you quit smoking, the benefits start almost immediately. After just 8 hours, harmful carbon monoxide levels in your blood will have reduced by half. After 48 hours your senses of taste and smell are improving.
After 2 to 12 weeks, your circulation will have improved, and after 3 to 9 months, lung function increases by up to 10%. Quitting smoking also reduces your risks of other health problems such as heart attacks, dementia and strokes.
Evidence also shows that once people have got past the short-term withdrawal stage of quitting, they have reduced anxiety, depression and stress – as well as increased positive mood compared with people who continue to smoke.
There are financial benefits too. On average smokers spend £59.54 a week on tobacco, so they could save £3,000 a year if they stopped.
Councillor Tristram Burden, Cabinet member for Adult Social Care, Public Health, and Service Transformation, said: “Even if you've tried before and didn't manage, never give up on quitting.
“I tried several times before I succeeded, and key to my success was getting the right support.
“Our dedicated health trainer service can help you through your quit attempt, with expert advice and medication to deal with cravings.”
Get the help you need to quit this Stoptober
If you’d like to quit, there's plenty of support available during Stoptober and beyond from the council’s Healthy Lifestyle Team and from participating pharmacies.
Stop Smoking Advisors provide up to 12 weeks of one-to-one support, in person or on the phone, nicotine replacement therapy (gum, patches etc) and motivation to keep you on track.
Stop smoking advisors can also provide you with a free four-week ‘swap to stop’ vape kit – ask your stop smoking advisor for more information.
Stop smoking services are free, confidential and open to all adults living and or working in Brighton & Hove. Sign up for support from the Healthy Lifestyles Team.
Find more about local stop smoking services on our Help to stop smoking page.
Or join us at a local event for information and advice on stopping smoking, carbon monoxide testing and blood pressure checks.
- Saturday 12 October, 10.30am to 1pm, Being Well in the West (Hangleton & Knoll Project event), St Richards Community Centre, Hangleton
- Wednesday 23 October, 10am to 4pm, Jubilee Library
Further advice and support
- NHS Better Health Quit Smoking website featuring tools to help you quit, including a personal quit plan and links to download the Stop Smoking app.
- Stoptober Facebook page which provides regular information and encouragement throughout October.
- Smokefree Quit Smoking Support Group on Facebook so you don’t have to quit alone.
