Worcestershire residents given support to stop smoking in 2013 (From Redditch Advertiser)

Worcestershire residents given support to stop smoking in 2013

3:30pm Sunday 6th January 2013 in News

ORGANISATIONS providing stop-smoking services are expecting a busy start to 2013, as smokers resolve to quit the habit.

Hard-hitting national TV ads will be supplemented in Worcestershire by distribution of information cards through shops and businesses which customers can pick up.

The cards encourage shoppers to find out the details of their local stop-smoking service by phoning Worcestershire County Council's Healthy Lifestyles hub number 01905 363 909 or stopsmokingworcestershire.nhs.uk.

In the national ads, smokers will be told that just 15 cigarettes cause a mutation that can lead to cancerous tumours. The campaign comes in response to statistics that show more than a third of smokers still think the health risks associated with smoking are greatly exaggerated.

Frances Howie, Worcestershire's Assistant Director of Public Health, said: "Smoking can cause serious health problems for smokers and their families. We are distributing contact cards in areas where we know there is a higher prevalence of smoking, but of course anyone can ring the Healthy Lifestyles hub number at any time.

“The hub will give callers the number of their local stop-smoking service which they can then ring to make an appointment. We know that people are four times more likely to quit with their local stop-smoking service than if they go it alone.”