Portsmouth residents who want to make it their New Year’s resolution to stop smoking can get free, convenient support from the council’s Wellbeing Service.
The Wellbeing Service provide weekly contact with a trained adviser, either via telephone or face to face at a community venue. Specialist support is offered, including arranging stop-smoking products or medication such as patches, gum, lozenges and Cytisine (for a one-off prescription fee), or free vapes and liquids (for age 18+ only).
Chris, 43, from Buckland, decided to quit smoking with his mum in 2024. Seeing her struggling with COPD and angina gave him extra motivation. After contacting the team, Chris and his mum met with wellbeing practitioner Allison weekly, for three months. She arranged patches and a free vape kit for them and they quit smoking.
Chris said: “It’s been great support, highly motivating. Allison’s just been amazing.
“My breathing’s better. My taste buds have come back, my sense of smell too. My fitness levels have changed immensely, so I can do a lot more than I used to.”
Evidence has shown that smokers are three times more likely to stop successfully with support from a local stop smoking service than by trying to do it on willpower alone.
Cllr Matthew Winnington, Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing, Health and Care, at Portsmouth City Council, said:
“We know it can take multiple attempts to stop smoking for good. For anyone who is wanting to stop smoking in 2025, whether it’s your first attempt, or if you’ve tried before, the Wellbeing Service is there to support you.”
New data has shown smoking rates are dropping in Portsmouth; 2023 data shows 10.1% of Portsmouth adults are estimated to be current smokers, a drop from 14.7% in 2022.
Find more details of the support available at wellbeingportsmouth.co.uk/stopsmoking or you can contact the Wellbeing Service on 023 9229 4001.