Figures of North East people quitting smoking up by 14%

Aug 20 2010 by Helen Rae, The Journal

SMOKING claims the lives of up to 15 people a day in the North East, new figures have shown.

Statistics released by The NHS Information Centre have revealed 25,485 people successfully kicked the habit last year.

And with the help of the six NHS Stop Smoking Services in the North East the number of people who quit smoking rocketed by 14% between March 2009 to April 2010.

But smoking is still the region’s biggest killer, with 5,475 dying each year from the addiction and for every death another 20 people suffer smoking-related conditions as a result.

Ailsa Rutter, director of Fresh, said: “The good news is the North East has the best NHS Stop Smoking Services in the country. They’re by far the best chance for anyone who has tried but failed, or wants to really give themselves the best chance of quitting.

“There’s been a massive change in the way smoking is now seen, and this has spurred on tens of thousands of people to quit, or try to do everything they can to stop their children from starting smoking in the first place”.

The region has seen the biggest drop in smoking in England, from 29% of adults regularly smoking in 2005 to just 21% smoking in 2008 and last year was a record year for quitting smoking in the North East. This is partly attributed to the Government’s smokefree law introduced on July 1, 2007, when lighting up was banned in all public places and workplaces, including shops, offices, factories, pubs, cafes, restaurants, membership clubs and work vehicles.

As well as people successfully kicking the addiction once and for all, more people are giving quitting a go. Nearly 13% of all North East smokers made a quit attempt through the NHS last year – by far the highest rate of any other region.

Prof Stephen Singleton, regional director for Public Health, said: “Here in the North East smoking was part of daily life for too many years but we have tackled the problem head-on and achieved the biggest drop in smoking in the country.

“It’s great to see our NHS Stop Smoking Services seeing more smokers than anywhere else, but these figures are also a stark reminder that the job is not done.

“Continuing to tackle tobacco is central to us achieving better health for our families, reducing the massive drain on the NHS and giving children the best start in life.

“No matter how disadvantaged you are in life, if you are a smoker you are further disadvantaged. The North East’s progress in tackling smoking has been as dramatic as it has been pleasing, but if we can make smoking history for more people, that will be a major part of the transformation of the North East.”

People can access help to quit by phoning the Newcastle and North Tyneside NHS Stop Smoking Service on 0300 123 9290, or the NHS Helpline on 0800 022 4332 or by logging on to www.smokefree.nhs.uk