You’ve got what it takes to quit this Stoptober with free support across Greater Manchester

It's estimated that 16% of the population in Greater Manchester still smoke

Stoptober, the annual stop smoking campaign from the Department of Health and Social Care, is back to urge smokers across the country to give quitting a go, as evidence shows people are five times more likely to quit for good if they can make it to at least 28 days smokefree.

In Greater Manchester, it’s estimated around 350,000 adults still smoke – 16% of the population – and it remains the leading cause of premature death, with more than 5,000 preventable deaths a year. This is why this year's Stoptober mass quit attempt is as important as ever, with quitting being one of the best things a smoker can do for their health.

Now in its 11th year, Stoptober aims to empower people to give up smoking during October. Research shows that self-confidence is a major factor when it comes to quitting. This year’s campaign will encourage people to take simple steps to help build their confidence and get the support they need from family and friends, as well as professional help, to stop smoking for good.

Quitting with others, together with the range of support offered, means that Stoptober can boost confidence, motivation and readiness, making smokers realise that they are stronger and better prepared than they think and setting them up for long-term success.

Dr Matt Evison, Clinical Lead for Greater Manchester’s tobacco control programme, Make Smoking History, said: “If you smoke the single most important thing you can do to improve your health and quality of life is to stop smoking. If you don’t succeed straight away, it doesn’t mean you never will. Every quit attempt is one step closer to quitting for good. And there are very real health benefits that start almost immediately when you stop smoking.

“The body starts to repair itself from the moment of quitting. Within as little as 24 to 48 hours after your last cigarette, the carbon monoxide that is poisoning your bloodstream will have left your body and your lungs will be clearing out mucus. More importantly, the longer you are smokefree, the less you are at risk of having a heart attack or developing a serious illness like cancer or lung disease.”

Sarah Price, chief officer for population & health inequalities at NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care, added: “People can ask their GP or local pharmacy for help to quit, or get free, personalised support from their local NHS Stop Smoking Service which will significantly increase their chances of quitting.

“Greater Manchester residents can also get six months’ free access to the Smoke Free app which helps users control cigarette cravings, monitor health improvements and money saved, and even chat to a stop smoking expert 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

There are more ways to quit than ever before:

• Get free, personalised support from your local stop smoking service
• Use nicotine replacement products and stop smoking medicines, available from shops, pharmacies and on prescription to help you manage withdrawal symptoms. Get some advice to help use it.
• Switch to vaping. In the UK, e-cigarettes have helped many people stop smoking. New research has found them to be a substantially less harmful source of nicotine for those wanting to quit smoking.

Find details of local stop smoking services and support across all 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester at makesmokinghistory.co.uk, or call the NHS Stop Smoking helpline free on 0300 123 1044.