Stoptober, the 28-day stop smoking campaign, from Public Health England, is back from 1st October and is once again supported by Guernsey Quitline.
Launched in 2012 and having driven nearly 1.5 million quit attempts to date Stoptober encourages and supports smokers towards quitting for good. Stoptober is based on research which shows if you can stop smoking for 28-days, you are five times more likely to be able to stay stopped for good. The campaign presents quitting as a more manageable 28 day challenge and rallies people around a specific date to get started.
Whilst Stoptober is a campaign in its own right, it is now positioned within the wider One You programme. One You is the Public Health England programme that helps adults across the country make small changes to their lifestyles that can have a big impact on their future health.
Stoptober encourages as many smokers as possible to prepare to quit from 1 October by taking part in the campaign and utilising the range of free resources and support available. These include an app, website and Facebook page, in addition, people can get expert face-to-face advice from local stop smoking services. In Guernsey, Quitline is very keen to support smokers and will provide free support and free medication including nicotine replacement patches, gum, lozenges and mouth spray. Those who use stop smoking aids and who get face-to-face support from their local stop smoking service are up to four times more likely to quit successfully.
Throughout October the campaign will continue to recruit smokers to take part, whilst also encouraging and supporting people to quit through the 28-day smoke-free journey. The Stoptober campaign is embracing e-cigarettes for the first time - a sign vaping is being seen as the key to getting people to quit. Guernsey Quitline is very happy to support vapers, not just for the Stoptober campaign, but at any time during the year. Although there is still limited evidence on long term effects of vaping, all evidence to date shows them to be a far safer alternative to smoking especially if used short term as part of a quit attempt.
To contact Guernsey Quitline for support or further information please telephone 01481 233170, visit the website www.gsyquitline.com Facebook page, Guernsey Quitline Stop Smoking Service, or email quitline@gov.gg
