Newham Council encourages residents to get support to quit smoking at World No Tobacco Day event – Newham Council

The Change Grow Live event, from 10am to 12pm in Canning Town, will see Quit Well Newham advisers highlighting the benefits of the free stop smoking service. Quit Well Newham currently offers free eight-week vape starter kits to support adult smokers to quit smoking. The service offers 12 weeks of specialist advice and support to smokers and smokeless tobacco users who are planning to quit.

Cllr Neil Wilson, cabinet member for adult health and social care, said:
“The thought of quitting smoking can be difficult, but World No Tobacco Day can be used as an opportunity to start your smoke-free journey. Residents who need support should know they are not alone. Tobacco use can be harmful and deadly.

“We want all smokers to join our Quit Well Newham service. Residents will be offered free advice and support from a qualified practitioner to quit smoking for up to 12 weeks. The service also offers nicotine replacement therapy and regulated vaping, which are in line with Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency guidance.

“This World No Tobacco Day, take the first step. You’ll have more time, more money, and see huge health benefits as a result.”

Figures show that by joining Quit Well Newham, smokers are four times more likely to quit than if they did it on their own. Since the launch of Quit Well Newham, there have been 4,839 referrals to the service and over 1,000 quits. The service also offers nicotine replacement therapy. Support is available in English, Bengali, Urdu, Gujarati and Lithuanian. BSL support is also provided.

The theme of World No Tobacco Day 2024 is focused on advocating for an end to the targeting of young people with harmful tobacco products. As stated by the World Health Organization (WHO), data from 2022 shows that at least 37 million young people between the ages of 13 and 15 use some form of tobacco. Meanwhile, research highlighted by Action on Smoking and Health shows the younger the smoking age, the more likely it is to be bad; early uptake is associated with heavier subsequent smoking, higher levels of dependence, lower odds of quitting, and higher mortality.

In the UK, there has been a decline in the prevalence of young people smoking cigarettes, although the number of young people currently vaping has increased. Vaping is less harmful than smoking and is an effective quit aid for adult smokers, but is not recommended for under 18s. Research has found that young people are four times more likely to be regular smokers or substance abusers if they live in a household. , who smokes, drinks or takes drugs.

Newham resident Marika White who used the Quit Well Newham service said:
“I had previously accessed help to quit smoking but the counselor had no experience of smoking which made it difficult for them to understand my struggles.

“The one to one sessions offered by Quit Well Newham are great because they are regular. It helped that the counselors were nice as it made the experience more enjoyable. Since I quit smoking, my exercise routine has been more consistent than usual, less alcohol as I no longer smoke socially. My favorite part of the program was reviewing my journey and being proud of my success in quitting smoking.

“My advice would be if you’re thinking about quitting, make sure you’re prepared, be committed, be consistent and consider other changes to go along with quitting.”

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and premature death. As the NHS has pointed out, cigarettes flood the body with thousands of chemicals, many of which are poisonous. As soon as a person stops smoking, the body begins to cleanse itself of all toxins and the repair process begins.

For more information about World No Tobacco Day, including how to access support, visit www.wellnewham.org.uk/stop-smoking.