Stopping smoking is the most important single thing you can do to improve your health.
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Smoking has been identified as the main reason for the gap in life expectancy between the rich and the poor;
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It is responsible for half the excess risk of premature death in men.
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It kills over 120,000 people in the UK every year.
Smoking Cessation Service
Locally, 20,000 people have been helped to stop smoking by the Gateshead and South Tyneside Smoking Cessation Service.
The Community Health Team works alongside the NHS Smoking Cessation Service to give advice, provide information and refer people to intermediate or specialist advisers.
They can provide:
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fitness testing to test lung function and lung capacity;
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a Smokalyzer test to measure the level of carbon monoxide in the lungs.
The advisers provide one–to–one and group support for people wishing to give up smoking. They can offer a variety of resources to assist in this, such as:
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Nicotine Replacement Therapies – patches, inhalators, gum or tablets to reduce the craving. For some people these will be free for the first few weeks;
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They also give advice and support to people who want to stop smoking.
Drugs and Alcohol
Gateshead’s Drug Action Team provide support to individuals and those affected by their dependence on substances including drugs and alcohol. The Community Health Team complement this work in the following ways:
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Encourage healthy lifestyles;
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Provide information on addiction and services;
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Support individuals and carers in adopting positive coping strategies.
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Action on Smoking and Health (ASH ). A campaigning public health charity working for a comprehensive societal response to tobacco aimed at achieving a sharp reduction and eventual elimination of the health problems caused by tobacco.
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NHS Giving Up Smoking.