Latest figures show that of the 713 people who set quit dates in the last 12 months, 351 had stopped smoking 4 weeks later after receiving help through the council’s Live Well Wolverhampton or Swap to Stop programmes.
It’s estimated that just 3 to 4% of smokers are able to give up without support, meaning people are around 13 times more likely to quit with help from programmes such as these.
Live Well Wolverhampton provides free support for any adult smoker living in Wolverhampton including a 12 week, tailored behavioural support plan and a vape starter kit or nicotine replacement therapy. To access support, call or text ‘QUIT’ to 07378 768046 or visit Stop Smoking Support in Wolverhampton.
Also available locally is Swap to Stop, a world first, government backed scheme that provides a free vape starter kit and vape liquid, along with 12 weeks of behavioural support from trained advisors at convenient local community venues. To find out more and sign up for free, please visit Stop Smoking Support in Wolverhampton.
Councillor Obaida Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Community, said: “Quitting smoking is the single best thing you can do to improve your health, protect your loved ones, and save money – and it’s great to hear that around half of smokers are able to quit thanks to the support of the council.
“Giving up smoking reduces your risk of serious illness like cancer, heart disease and stroke, and will have a significant positive impact on both your physical and mental health.
“After 48 hours, your senses of taste and smell will be better, after 2 to 12 weeks, your circulation will have improved, making you feel healthier and fitter, and after 3 to 9 months, your lung function will have increased by up to 10%, meaning less coughing and wheezing.
“After a year, your risk of a heart attack will have halved, and after 10 years your risk of death from lung cancer will have been cut in half, compared to smokers.
“Quitting also helps protect others from your second hand smoke, and could save you thousands of pounds a year.
“With the right help, you have a much better chance of stopping smoking – and there’s free support available locally in Wolverhampton and nationally through the NHS.”
One of those who has quit with support from Live Well Wolverhampton is John, who said: “Stopping smoking has made me feel like a new person.
“I don’t think I could have done it without the help of the service; my advisor’s support and understanding really helped me through the hard days and I am so proud of where I am now.
“I can walk up the stairs without getting out of breath, my skin feels so much better, I can taste food again which I am starting to enjoy and, most of all, I have saved £1,622 which I have used to book a family holiday, money that would have been thrown away before.”
As well as Live Well Wolverhampton and Swap to Stop, people in Wolverhampton will also soon be able to benefit from a stop smoking assistant powered by artificial intelligence available through WhatsApp.
The council is piloting QuitCoach AI and, over the next few months, smokers will be approached to sign up for free stop smoking support, alongside additional quit aids such as vapes and nicotine replacement therapy.
