As the World Health Organisations’ No Tobacco Day approaches on Saturday, Sefton Council is reminding people of the local support that is available to help people quit.

Weekly advice and a range of quit aids

Smoke Free Sefton offers smokers weekly advice and a range of quit aids to support people in their journey to a smoke free life. This includes Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT), vapes and specialist medications. People who contact the service are offered support from a Specialist Practitioner who will help them plan and manage their efforts to give up.

The Smoke Free Sefton team work alongside the NHS, local pharmacies, and other organisations to support people to give up smoking.   More information about Smoke Free Sefton is available at www.smokefreesefton.co.uk or by calling 0300 100 1000.

World No Tobacco Day takes place each year on 31st May. It aims to raise global awareness about the harmful health and environmental effects of tobacco use. And it encourages people to quit smoking.

A uniquely harmful product

Cllr Mhairi Doyle, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing said: “Tobacco is a uniquely harmful product. It is responsible for 1 in 4 of all cancer deaths and up to two-thirds of long-term users will die from tobacco related diseases and illness. Tobacco also causes significant environmental damage through deforestation, pollution, and the depletion of resources such as water.”

“No Tobacco Day is an opportunity for smokers across the Borough in Sefton to start their journey to enjoying the health and financial benefits and that journey starts with Smoke Free Sefton.”

“Smoke Free Sefton have helped hundreds of people stop smoking in Sefton over the past year.  The team take a unique approach which includes take time to understand your history with smoking. This helps them provide people with a personalised plan and help them work towards you goal of giving up.”

Best method for quitting

The combination of support that Smoke Free Sefton offer has been shown by University College London to be the best method for quitting and much more effective than just relying on willpower or over-the-counter products such as gum and patches.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) and specialised medications are recommended to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms, making the journey to quitting easier.  Switching to vaping can also be a beneficial step, providing smokers with the nicotine they want without the harmful tar and toxic chemicals in traditional cigarettes.

Valentine’s Day

Earlier this year Sefton ran an advertising campaign around Valentine’s Day encouraging smokers to quit and ‘Give the Gift of a Healthier You’. A follow up urged them to ‘Quit Smoking for You’ and ‘For Your Loved Ones’.

Cllr Doyle added: “When we launched our Valentine’s campaign, I said ‘Nothing says I love you like showing some love to yourself.’”

“That is just as much the case today and I urge Sefton smokers to take the first step and visit www.smokefreesefton.co.uk  or call them on 0300 100 1000 today.”