Stoptober is just around the corner, giving people across the country the opportunity to join thousands of others taking their first steps towards a smoke free future.
Stoptober is just around the corner, giving people across the country the opportunity to join thousands of others taking their first steps towards a smoke free future.
To mark the national quit smoking campaign, Derbyshire County Council is encouraging residents to access the free support available through its specialist stop smoking service.
Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Safety, Councillor Dan Price said: "Quitting smoking remains one of the most effective ways to improve your overall health and quality of life.
“Smoking is linked to many serious illnesses, including lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease and stroke, which continue to be among the leading causes of preventable deaths in the UK."
Giving up smoking can have immediate and long-term health benefits. Circulation starts to improve within weeks, and after one year smoke-free, the risk of having a heart attack is around half that of a smoker.
The likelihood of developing smoking-related cancers and lung disease also reduces over time.
Around 9% of adults in Derbyshire currently smoke compared to 10.4% for England and also 10.4% for the East Midlands.
Councillor Price added: "Although Derbyshire’s smoking rate is below the regional average, there is still more work to do.
“Nicotine addiction can be difficult to overcome without the right support, but people are three times more likely to stop smoking successfully when they use a professional stop smoking service."
Live Life Better Derbyshire, Derbyshire County Council’s health and wellbeing service, provides 12 weeks of free stop smoking support for Derbyshire residents aged 12 and above.
The service includes advice and guidance from trained stop smoking specialists, access to stop smoking medications, free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), and a dedicated Facebook support group.
Adults aged 18 and over can also access vapes as a quitting aid.
The Live Life Better Derbyshire team will be carrying out drop-in stop smoking support events across Derbyshire throughout October. Find where they will be online here.
For more information about the free stop smoking service, call 0800 085 2299 or visit www.livelifebetterderbyshire.org.uk/stopsmoking.