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Serious about stopping smoking?
The Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland (HPA) launched a television advertising campaign today encouraging smokers who are serious about stopping to make No Smoking Day (NSD) Wednesday 8 March their quit date.
The advertising counts down the days to NSD giving smokers who want to quit an opportunity to focus on the date and prepare themselves to stop smoking.
Victoria Creasy, Senior Manager for Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco at the HPA, said “We know from research that smokers who have time in advance to plan for the day are more likely to succeed in kicking the habit. Although nicotine is highly addictive and stopping smoking is not easy, this special day aims to help those people who want to do so.
“There is a lot of support out there for smokers who really are serious about quitting. The advertising highlights the Smokers’ Helpline 0800 85 85 85, a free service, which people can contact for advice and support. The Helpline is staffed by trained counsellors who will be able to direct callers to smoking cessation services in their area.”
NSD is a UK event which is evaluated every year and last year’s evaluation revealed that 82% of respondents in Northern Ireland were aware of NSD compared to Great Britain where awareness was much lower at 66%.
Victoria continued: “This year is the 23rd NSD event in the UK and since it was established in 1984 NSD has helped over one million people stop smoking. It is not about hassling smokers, picking on smokers or trying to force them to stop. It is a day for people who are already interested in tackling their smoking habit to focus on breaking the addiction completely.”
The television advertisement will run from Monday 27 February until Wednesday 8 March.
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Notes
to the Editor:
There will be a media facility at the HPA on Friday 24 February between 11:00am – 12noon when Victoria Creasy, Senior Manager for Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco at the HPA, will be available for interview.
Almost 3,000 people die each year in Northern Ireland as a result of smoking related illnesses.
More information on NSD can be found at www.nosmokingday.org.uk
For further information contact:
Contact Rosie McGaughey or Jenny Dougan on - Tel: 028 9031 1611 |
