October 01, 2024 - 662 views
More than 2,000 people stopped smoking with the support of the NHS during a record-breaking year for quitters in North Wales.
Data from the Help Me Quit service at Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board shows that their friendly specialist advisors helped a total of 2,077 people break free from tobacco between April 2023 and March 2024 – more in a single year than ever before.
Now they are encouraging more people to take their first steps to stop this October.
Helping people to quit smoking is one of the health board’s priorities because tobacco has such a huge impact on health.
Smoking is still the leading cause of early death and preventable illness in Wales. Last week, figures from Public Health Wales revealed how more than one in 10 deaths of people aged over 35 in Wales is caused by smoking.
But stopping smoking has major benefits for health and wellbeing within just a few hours, and can have important lifestyle benefits too.
AC/DC fan Ian Tomlinson, from Wrexham, had never seen his favourite band – but was able to make a rock pilgrimage to one of their gigs at Wembley Stadium this summer
Ian said he enjoyed the trip to the full after a boost in his energy levels and his back pocket after he quit earlier this year.
“We paid for tickets, we paid for the hotel, we paid for food, we paid for petrol down,” he said. “The whole thing was an experience that I would never have ever had if I had still been smoking.
“Not only did I get to go and see the concert, I could stand there with my wife and enjoy it. And she could enjoy me standing with her, rather than me having to go and sit down.
“We stood there for five hours. I'm not saying I danced like a kid, but I was shuffling the best I can which I couldn't do before! It just gives you the energy and the enthusiasm to do stuff that you always wanted to do.”
Graham Roberts, from Abergele, feels he has broken free from being controlled by cigarettes after kicking smoking with Help Me Quit.
“The best thing about quitting smoking is health-wise, definitely health-wise, money, and not smelling of smoke – especially when you're trying to say goodnight to your children,” Graham said.
“I think the main thing is I'm no longer addicted to smoking. I've actually beaten something that had a grip on me for many, many years.
“And if I can do it, anybody can do it. It's nice to know that I have finally beaten something that I was addicted to. But no – not any more.”
More details about Help Me Quit in North Wales is available at https://bcuhb.nhs.wales/health-advice/alcohol-drugs-and-smoking/help-me-quit/
