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Latest phase of stop smoking
campaign launches
THE latest phase of a successful public
health campaign to encourage smokers in Liverpool to quit is being launched.
Smoking accounts for almost 1,000 deaths in the city every year, and 1 in 4
people smoke.
In January, Public Health Liverpool persuaded at least 400 more people to make a
serious attempt to give up through two distinct campaigns aimed at men and women
which clocked up more than 18,000 website visits; and now the campaign is being re-launched.
Men are being targeted through the 'Kick the Ciggies'
campaign focused
around football which features Liverpool FC legend Jamie Carragher offering
encouragement on the game plan and tactics needed to give up.
Women are urged to 'Chuck the
Ciggies' at which
features local actress and presenter Gemma Brodrick and a series of films with
local women Danielle, Amy, Ginny, and Hilary who all quit smoking, sharing their
tips and advice and giving encouragement.
Both sites direct people towards Smokefree Liverpool, a free service in the City
which already helps around 250 men and women a month give up smoking through
FREE one to one support and access to medicines that fight cravings. There will
also be community events and promotion at Everton FC matches.
Councillor Tim Beaumont, Mayoral lead for wellbeing, said:-
"We had real
success with Kick the Ciggies and Chuck the Ciggies at the start of the year and
hundreds of people made a serious attempt to give up, many of them successfully.
What we are trying to do is break down a few barriers and show people that they
are not alone and there are lots of different types of support out there to help
them quit.
Smoking is one of the biggest killers in Liverpool and all the evidence shows
that quitting is the biggest thing you can do to benefit your health and it also
benefits your pocket. The vast majority of smokers in Liverpool are keen to quit
and our message is that there is lots of support to help you through the process
and we'll work with you to come up with a quit plan suited to your needs and
ensure you succeed."
Danielle Kavanagh, who quit a year ago with
support from Smokefree Liverpool after an 18 year addiction, features in the
Chuck the Ciggies campaign.
She is urging others to give up and said:- "I was a slave to an addiction
that was bigger than me and for a long time I wanted to quit but I'd make up a
million excuses.
It's now been a year for me in which I have been free of cancer sticks and the
good things for me are that there is no hanging about outside, smoking in the
rain or cold.
There are no more smelly hands, breath or hair. I feel clean inside and out and
have money to do my hobbies and going out.
Getting support from the
Smokefree Liverpool team has changed my life." |
