Stoptober is back for 2023
A new nationwide survey released ahead of Stoptober shows nearly all (95%) ex-smokers see positive changes in their life as early as two weeks after quitting.
It comes as Fresh with Gateshead Council encourage people to join the tens of thousands of people quitting for this year's Stoptober's mass quit attempt which launches on 1 October.
In the North East the research found that some of the top benefits ex-smokers saw within two weeks of quitting included:
- more energy (36%)
- feeling healthier (37%)
- breathing better (37%)
- as well as improvements in health, many respondents also noticed improvement in their ability to exercise (21%), healthier looking skin (24%), sense of taste returning (26%), and saving money (31%)
- on average, a smoker could save £38 a week by quitting smoking, which is around £2000 a year.
While stopping smoking can be challenging, the survey also revealed interesting findings in terms of where people find support to quit, with family and friends (27%) and talking to others who have quit smoking (24%) rated as key motivators. Other top tips included finding a distraction from smoking such as keeping hands busy (38%), changing routine (33%) and going for walks (42%).
These findings reinforce the near-immediate improvements smokers can expect when they quit - including improvements to senses of taste and smell within as little as 48 hours.
Alice Wiseman, Director of Public Health at Gateshead Council, said: "As we head towards another expensive winter, there's never been a better time to stop spending on smoking. Quitting smoking is also an important part of staying healthy and looking after yourself during the colder winter months. Taking part in Stoptober gives you the extra encouragement of knowing you're not alone - there are thousands of people across the country taking their first steps towards feeling better, physically, mentally and financially.
"Finding the right support is the best thing you can do to make your quit attempt successful. There are lots of tools to choose from, as well as help to find the right ones for you. Contact our Stop Smoking Advisers today for free expert advice."
Ailsa Rutter OBE, Director of Fresh and Balance, said: "This Stoptober you can do it. It's a chance for a new start. Believe in yourself and get the right support to beat the cravings - it can make all the difference.
"There are so many benefits to quitting smoking and it is never too late as your body starts to recover. Within weeks you feel fitter and can breathe easier. But as the weeks and months go by you reduce the risks of a life-altering disease.
"Within a few weeks you can feel calmer and less stressed. Quitting is also good for your family finances - it might not solve your money worries but it will ease them."
Smoking rates are declining and the North East has seen the largest fall in England, from 29% of adults smoking in 2005 to 13.1% in 2022. But over five million adults in England still smoke and smoking remains the single biggest cause of preventable illness and death in the country - linked to 64,000 deaths a year. [3] The total cost from smoking to society in England is approximately £17 billion a year, this includes the cost to the NHS of treating diseases caused by smoking at approximately £2.4 billion a year. Smoking costs the North East a staggering £992 million a year.
Stopping smoking also brings multiple long term health benefits, including a reduced risk of several cancers and lung diseases. Just one year after quitting, the risk of a heart attack is halved and after 10 years, the risk of death from lung cancer falls to half that of a smoker.
Health Minister Neil O'Brien, said:"Smoking is the single biggest cause of preventable illness and death. When people quit smoking, the benefits are huge - they are healthier, wealthier and pressure on the NHS eases. Stoptober will motivate thousands to quit smoking this October by providing people with the support and confidence to go smokefree. We remain committed to our bold ambition to be smokefree by 2030, bolstered by a package of new measures giving vapes to a million smokers, new financial incentives for pregnant women to quit and new pack inserts to provide support for people to quit."
Stoptober supports the government's bold new measures - such as financial incentives for all pregnant women who smoke to quit - to help us achieve our bold ambition to be Smokefree by 2030.
Stoptober is based on evidence showing that if you can make it to 28 days smokefree, you're five times more likely to quit for good. This year's new campaign - 'When you stop smoking, good things start to happen' - is designed to highlight the immediate benefits smokers can expect when they stop smoking.
Ex-smokers The Only Way Is Essex star Bobby Norris and Love Island's Malin Andersson are joining the campaign this year to tell their stories of how they quit successfully and encourage others to also give quitting a go.
Campaigner, broadcaster and former Love Islander Malin Andersson, said:"I quit two years ago because I was pregnant but was amazed to discover there are so many other benefits to stopping smoking, such as being able to breathe easier, I had more energy and just felt so much healthier. I used to smoke 8-10 cigarettes a day for 8 years - so I know how hard it can be to quit, but after seeing these improvements, I had to stick with it. This could be you too!"
Stoptober offers a range of free quitting support, including the NHS Quit Smoking app, Facebook support group, an online Personal Quit Plan and local stop smoking service look-up tool, as well as advice on stop smoking aids including information on how vaping can help you quit smoking.
Find free support to quit smoking in Gateshead
Photo L-R: Ailsa Rutter OBE, Director of Fresh & Balance; Alice Wiseman, Director of Public Health in Gateshead; Councillor Bernadette Oliphant, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing and Neil Green, Fresh and Balance
A new nationwide survey released ahead of Stoptober shows nearly all (95%) ex-smokers see positive changes in their life as early as two weeks after quitting.
It comes as Fresh with Gateshead Council encourage people to join the tens of thousands of people quitting for this year's Stoptober's mass quit attempt which launches on 1 October.
In the North East the research found that some of the top benefits ex-smokers saw within two weeks of quitting included:
- more energy (36%)
- feeling healthier (37%)
- breathing better (37%)
- as well as improvements in health, many respondents also noticed improvement in their ability to exercise (21%), healthier looking skin (24%), sense of taste returning (26%), and saving money (31%)
- on average, a smoker could save £38 a week by quitting smoking, which is around £2000 a year.
While stopping smoking can be challenging, the survey also revealed interesting findings in terms of where people find support to quit, with family and friends (27%) and talking to others who have quit smoking (24%) rated as key motivators. Other top tips included finding a distraction from smoking such as keeping hands busy (38%), changing routine (33%) and going for walks (42%).
These findings reinforce the near-immediate improvements smokers can expect when they quit - including improvements to senses of taste and smell within as little as 48 hours.
Alice Wiseman, Director of Public Health at Gateshead Council, said: "As we head towards another expensive winter, there's never been a better time to stop spending on smoking. Quitting smoking is also an important part of staying healthy and looking after yourself during the colder winter months. Taking part in Stoptober gives you the extra encouragement of knowing you're not alone - there are thousands of people across the country taking their first steps towards feeling better, physically, mentally and financially.
"Finding the right support is the best thing you can do to make your quit attempt successful. There are lots of tools to choose from, as well as help to find the right ones for you. Contact our Stop Smoking Advisers today for free expert advice."
Ailsa Rutter OBE, Director of Fresh and Balance, said: "This Stoptober you can do it. It's a chance for a new start. Believe in yourself and get the right support to beat the cravings - it can make all the difference.
"There are so many benefits to quitting smoking and it is never too late as your body starts to recover. Within weeks you feel fitter and can breathe easier. But as the weeks and months go by you reduce the risks of a life-altering disease.
"Within a few weeks you can feel calmer and less stressed. Quitting is also good for your family finances - it might not solve your money worries but it will ease them."
Smoking rates are declining and the North East has seen the largest fall in England, from 29% of adults smoking in 2005 to 13.1% in 2022. But over five million adults in England still smoke and smoking remains the single biggest cause of preventable illness and death in the country - linked to 64,000 deaths a year. [3] The total cost from smoking to society in England is approximately £17 billion a year, this includes the cost to the NHS of treating diseases caused by smoking at approximately £2.4 billion a year. Smoking costs the North East a staggering £992 million a year.
Stopping smoking also brings multiple long term health benefits, including a reduced risk of several cancers and lung diseases. Just one year after quitting, the risk of a heart attack is halved and after 10 years, the risk of death from lung cancer falls to half that of a smoker.
Health Minister Neil O'Brien, said:"Smoking is the single biggest cause of preventable illness and death. When people quit smoking, the benefits are huge - they are healthier, wealthier and pressure on the NHS eases. Stoptober will motivate thousands to quit smoking this October by providing people with the support and confidence to go smokefree. We remain committed to our bold ambition to be smokefree by 2030, bolstered by a package of new measures giving vapes to a million smokers, new financial incentives for pregnant women to quit and new pack inserts to provide support for people to quit."
Stoptober supports the government's bold new measures - such as financial incentives for all pregnant women who smoke to quit - to help us achieve our bold ambition to be Smokefree by 2030.
Stoptober is based on evidence showing that if you can make it to 28 days smokefree, you're five times more likely to quit for good. This year's new campaign - 'When you stop smoking, good things start to happen' - is designed to highlight the immediate benefits smokers can expect when they stop smoking.
Ex-smokers The Only Way Is Essex star Bobby Norris and Love Island's Malin Andersson are joining the campaign this year to tell their stories of how they quit successfully and encourage others to also give quitting a go.
Campaigner, broadcaster and former Love Islander Malin Andersson, said:"I quit two years ago because I was pregnant but was amazed to discover there are so many other benefits to stopping smoking, such as being able to breathe easier, I had more energy and just felt so much healthier. I used to smoke 8-10 cigarettes a day for 8 years - so I know how hard it can be to quit, but after seeing these improvements, I had to stick with it. This could be you too!"
Stoptober offers a range of free quitting support, including the NHS Quit Smoking app, Facebook support group, an online Personal Quit Plan and local stop smoking service look-up tool, as well as advice on stop smoking aids including information on how vaping can help you quit smoking.
Find free support to quit smoking in Gateshead
Photo L-R: Ailsa Rutter OBE, Director of Fresh & Balance; Alice Wiseman, Director of Public Health in Gateshead; Councillor Bernadette Oliphant, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing and Neil Green, Fresh and Balance
