One You Kent Supports Better Health Smoke Free Campaign

As 2022 gets underway, many of us are looking towards setting some New Year’s Resolutions.

The Better Health Smoke Free campaign – supported by One You Kent smoking cessation services - is here to help with free proven NHS tools and support to quit this January.

Giving up smoking is good for your health, and your finances. Recent research from NatCen Social Research has also shown that children aged 10 to15-years-old were more likely to smoke if either their mother or father currently smoked. Children were also more likely to smoke if either parent had smoked in the past, even if they were not a current smoker*.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer and joint lead for the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, Dr Jeanelle de Gruchy said: “Smoking is terrible for your health but it also has a negative impact on people around you. Most people know the dangers of second smoke but we should not overlook the impact that parents have as role models.

"Every parent wants what is best for their child and will not want them to become smokers. By stopping smoking now, parents can help break the pattern of smoking in their family across the generations, protect their children and improve their own health.”

In Kent smoking rates have fallen from around one-in-five (20.2%) in 2011 to less than one-in-seven (13.7%) in 2019.

This January, the national Better Health Smoke Free campaign is encouraging adult smokers to quit - not only for themselves but also to reduce the chances of their children becoming future smokers. There’s a whole host of free support for those looking to quit, including free expert help from local Stop Smoking Services, the NHS Quit Smoking app, Facebook messenger bot, Stoptober Facebook online communities, daily emails and SMS, and an online Personal Quit Plan. If you want to quit smoking for your family and for your own health this January, search “Smoke Free” for free support to quit.

You can also find details on the Better Health campaign along with details about local support services – commissioned by Kent County Council and run by partners Kent Community NHS Foundation Trust – and the My Quit Route app at www.kent.gov.uk/smokefree

Kent County Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Adult Social Care, Clair Bell said: “Early indications show that people may have started or resumed smoking as a way of coping during the pandemic but we also know the links between smoking and serious health implications if you get Covid-19 as smoking damages the lungs and airways, making it harder to breathe. Each cigarette fills our lungs with toxins which harm the immune system and leave us more vulnerable to infections.”

She adds: “It’s never too late to quit – stopping smoking brings immediate benefits to health, including for people with an existing smoking-related disease. Free quitting tools including the NHS Quit Smoking app and expert support from local One You Kent stop smoking services give people the best chance of success. GPs and pharmacists can also give advice and tips to help smokers quit, including what prescription medicines might be right for them so make it your New Year’s Resolution to seek support to quit.”

Sarah Hutchings, One You Kent’s Professional Lead for Stop Smoking said: “We know it’s tough to quit smoking, but you don’t have to go it alone and you are more likely to succeed with our support.

“Our NHS trained smokefree advisers offer free, friendly support when you need it most, including free nicotine replacement therapy. We’ve supported over 3000 smokers to quit over the past year. Stopping smoking is the best thing you can do for your health.”

You can find out more about all the One You Kent support services available at www.oneyoukent.org.uk

*Information from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities.

Article courtesy of Kent County Council