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Smokers urged
to make it a 'Day to remember'
The Health Promotion
Agency is urging smokers in Northern Ireland to make today
a Day to remember by giving up cigarettes for good on 'No
Smoking Day' (NSD).
NSD is a campaign
that has proved to be very successful in Northern Ireland.
Over the past three years more smokers in Northern Ireland
have participated in NSD compared to any other part of the
United Kingdom. Giving up smoking requires planning, encouragement,
support and motivation and the actual 'day' provides an excellent
opportunity for smokers to set a date to quit.
In a UK survey
four out of five smokers said that if they had the chance
to live their lives again they would never have started smoking
in the first place. An important part of NSD therefore is
to promote the help that is available for smokers who want
to quit.
The Health Promotion
Agency's 'Every cigarette
is doing you damage' is currently encouraging smokers
to kick the habit. The campaign includes two television advertisements
promoting the range of Nicotine Replacement Therapies (NRT)
available to help smokers beat their addiction. A freephone
helpline for smokers is also promoted in the advertisements,
which provide help and support for smokers in their quest
to give up.
Speaking during
NSD Rob Phipps, Senior Health Promotion Manager for the Health
Promotion Agency, said: "Northern Ireland smokers have
been making good use of the helpline with the service receiving
around 500-600 calls each week. This is encouraging as it
shows smokers are doing something about their habit by phoning
the helpline, 0800 858585, for support and advice.
"Qualitative
research conducted in Northern Ireland by the Agency showed
that smokers found the thought of going through the quitting
process daunting and difficult so reassuring them that help
is available through smoking cessation services, NRTs, support
from health professionals, friends and family are all very
important.
Rob concluded:
"Many smokers prepare themselves mentally for this day
in advance and research shows that a large number of those
who decide to stop smoking stop for good on No Smoking Day".
The 'Every cigarette
is doing you damage' campaign continues until the end of this
month.
ENDS
Notes to the
editor: Over
the last three years, levels of awareness of 'No Smoking Day'
have stayed constant at around 80%, with smokers being more
aware of the campaign than non-smokers.
Survey research
taken from A picture of Misery: the truth about smoking
in smokers' own words. No Smoking Day, 2002.
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