Smokefree: Calderdale joins Yorkshire region in encouraging help to quit smoking for good

What will you miss? Say Yes to quitting smoking and you need not miss out on the things, and people, you love.

People often say they’d miss smoking, but imagine how much you’d miss out on, and how much your loved ones would miss you if you became one of the 74,000 people in England who die from smoking related illness each year.

While smoking rates have declined in recent years, 13.3% of adults across Yorkshire and the Humber still smoke. This is higher than the national average of 12.4%.

Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable ill health and death, costing the region an estimated £4.53 billion annually, including £197 million in NHS costs for treating smoking-related diseases.

Despite evidence that willpower alone is the least effective quitting method, it remains the most common approach.

Now Calderdale Council has joined other councils across the region in a Yes to Quit stop smoking campaign called “What will you miss?”.

Your best chance to quit smoking

The Yes to Quit website provides information on a range of quitting methods, highlighting that locally-commissioned services offer the best chance of success. Studies show you are three times likely to quit smoking with the help of a top smoking service than trying to quit unaided.

In Calderdale there are a range of options to suit what will work for you. These include:

- In person: Regular face-to-face meetings with an advisor and regular carbon monoxide readings to help you chart your progress

- On the phone: Regular phone calls with an advisor to support you on your journey to becoming smoke free.

- Online Quit plan: this is an online personal action plan taking you through the stages of preparing to stop; stopping and staying stopped. Having a plan makes it easier to stop and it’s easy to access the online booklet and complete a short form to set you on your way

- Video calls: If you can’t attend in person but would like some one-to-one support then this can be done via a video link.

- Free products: The service provides free stop smoking products like nicotine replacement products, licenced stop smoking medications and e-cigarettes to help people quit.

Take the first step to start stopping!

Find out more about the services in Calderdale here

Yorkshire Smokefree offers specialist services to help you stop smoking. So, if you are ready to quit you can call 0800 612 0011 (free) or 01422 262373. Or visit Yorkshire smokefree.