Southampton Healthy Living supporting Stoptober
Numbers of smokers in Southampton continues to decline to record low levels
Would you like to join them?
It’s been proved that asking for help from a specialist to stop smoking means you are four times more likely to quit for good. In 2015 just over 20% of the population in Southampton were estimated to be smokers, that figure is now nearer 18%.
Tobacco is still the number one killer in England. In Southampton in 2015/16 it is estimated that 1,886 people were admitted to hospital with a condition that was made worse because they smoke.
If you’re interested in stopping smoking then Southampton Healthy Living is here to support you.
We offer free one to one support or you can attend one of our free groups running across the Southampton area. Call us on 0300 123 3791 and talk to one of our friendly and knowledgeable trained advisors about the support that is best for you.
As the local experts we have access to the latest tools to help people stop smoking including:-
- Nicotine Replacement Therapy, which means, gum, patches, inhalers, nose sprays, lozenges, mouth sprays and micro tabs
- Stop smoking medication
- using vapes/ e-cigarettes to support you to quit smoking
Public Health England have said vaping/ e-cigarettes are 95% less harmful than tobacco and here at Southampton Healthy Living we will support your switch to vaping/ e-cigarettes to help stop smoking.
Stopping smoking not only greatly improves your own health but also the health of those around you. In Southampton we still have too many children born to parents who smoke or growing up in smoking environments. We know these children can have health issues as a result of this.
We’re offering friendly and knowledgeable support to pregnant women who smoke and their partners. Call us on 0300 123 3791 for more information.
Ruth Marriott CEO of SCA- lead partner for Southampton Healthy Living said “We’re looking at the ways in which we help people to stop smoking in Southampton. By reviewing the evidence as to what helps people successfully stop smoking for good we can find ways to apply this in our city.”
Andrew Smith, Operations Manager at Solent NHS Trust, one of the Southampton Healthy Living partners said: “We know that for many smokers, quitting is one of the most difficult things to do. That is why we provide tailor made specialist support through groups and one to one support and have access to nicotine replacement therapies and access to stop smoking medication to treat the addiction to nicotine.
We recognise that the addictive nature of nicotine means that we need to support people through their cravings and recognise that smoking is often not a choice for people but a dependence.
We will never tell a smoker to stop, but as a service we will support people to quit”
Nisha Sharma, Acute Sector Specialist Behaviour Change Practitioner for Southampton Healthy Living said: “Supporting pregnant women and their partners is key to make the best start in life for children. Pregnant smokers are more likely to have a still birth or a child that is underweight at birth which can lead to poorer health outcomes for the child.
People living with a long term health condition such as COPD can increase their health outcomes greatly and reduce their chance of hospital admissions by stopping smoking.
We know that giving up smoking is difficult but with the right support and treatment quitting can be achieved.”
Jo Ash, CEO of Southampton Voluntary Services, a Southampton Healthy Living partner said “We know that there are communities across Southampton where we have higher rates of smoking than the national average. We work with local, community organisations who understand the pressures that people face on a daily basis to support them to stop smoking. Our message is you are not alone and you can do it – let Southampton Healthy Living help you along the way. ”
Visit www.southamptonhealthyliving.org.uk to find out more.