Thousands of smokers in North Yorkshire are being encouraged to ‘swap ash for cash’ and consider the financial benefits of quitting this month on the 30th anniversary of No Smoking Day on Wednesday 13 March.
Nearly one in six UK adults smoke. But UK figures show two thirds want to quit.
This year smokers are being encouraged to focus on what they could afford to buy if they were to quit for a day (saving £7), a week (£49), a month (£210) and a year (£2,555).
Jo Dickinson, Team Leader for North Yorkshire NHS Stop Smoking Service said:
One of the biggest incentives for smokers to quit comes from considering the real amount of money they spend on cigarettes and thinking about what they and their family could afford if they were to give up for good.
By tallying up the exact amount of money that could be saved, smokers can work towards an actual goal – be it a new pair of shoes, a family trip to the cinema or a dream holiday.
No Smoking Day on 13 March provides the perfect opportunity for people to join hundreds of others in North Yorkshire and York attempting to quit. We know that smokers are four times more likely to quit successfully by joining an NHS treatment and support programme than going it alone. We want to spread the word about the support available, to help many make their first steps towards a healthier and wealthier, smokefree life.
The annual health campaign, run by the British Heart Foundation, is now in its 30th year and helped more than 760,000 people quit smoking last year and inspired another 1.5 million to seek out information to help them quit in future.
For more information on the benefits of quitting as well as top quit tips, visit www.wequit.co.uk
