News and communications

National 'Stoptober' campaign looks for recruits in Portsmouth

Last updated: 11 October 2012 13:01

National Stoptober campaign

Portsmouth smokers are being targeted to get behind a national campaign to quit smoking in October with a special roadshow that arrives in the city on 22 September.

Portsmouth is one of nine cities the roadshow will visit calling for smokers to join the 28 day quitting challenge. The roadshow will be in the city between 9:30am and 5:30pm.

Stoptober is a brand new mass quit attempt that launches on 1 October. The campaign is encouraging the nation’s eight million smokers to take part in the first and largest quitting challenge of its kind and go smokefree for 28 days. Smokers will be able to get a range of free expert support to help them on their way and can benefit from being part of a mass quit event through additional national information and resources such as a Stoptober smart phone app and daily motivational text messages.

As you are five times more likely to stay quit if you make it to 28 days, Stoptober leads smokers step by step through a new plan to support and motivate them through this crucial period.

Andrew Mortimore, Interim Director of Public Health, said: “Approximately 27% of the adult population in Portsmouth smoke, compared to 22% nationally. There are large variations in the level of smoking across different areas of the city. Increasing numbers of local smokers however, are making the commitment to stop.

“Even if you don’t smoke, get involved in the first ever Stoptober campaign and support those who need it.

“The campaign is about everyone getting involved, smokers and non-smokers. It is not an easy journey but, by doing it together, with support from your friends, family and colleagues as well as the national campaign and local smoking cessation services, we can continue to cut down the number of smokers in Portsmouth".

For more information about local stop smoking services and the Stoptober campaign visit the Healthy Pompey and Stoptober websites.

Did you know...

• For a 20 a day smoker, more than £600 could be saved before Christmas.

• Smoking is the biggest cause of premature death in England and each year it accounts for over 100,000 deaths in the UK and one in two long-term smokers will die prematurely from a smoking disease.

Date : 19 September 2012