Support to help people stop smoking in County Durham has been given a boost, with a refreshed service now available to help more residents quit for good.
Around 38,500 people in County Durham still smoke –1 in 9 adults – making smoking one of the biggest causes of preventable illness and early death in the county.
Durham County Council is working towards reducing smoking rates to 5% or less by 2030, meaning the authority will be aiming to help more than 16,500 people to quit in the coming years.
The refreshed service is now being delivered by Thrive Tribe, bringing a renewed focus on accessibility, flexibility and reaching communities most affected by smoking.
Residents can access a range of free support options designed to make quitting more achievable, including:
· One-to-one support from trained stop smoking advisors
· Flexible appointments – face-to-face, phone or online
· Access to nicotine replacement therapy (patches, gum and more), vapes (18+) and medications such as Champix and Zyban
· Ongoing support to manage cravings, habits and stress
Evidence shows that people who use stop smoking services are up to three to four times more likely to quit successfully compared to going it alone.
It will be focusing on those most affected, with smoking rates remaining higher in some groups across County Durham, including:
· Routine and manual workers
· People living in communities with more deprivation
· Those with mental health conditions
The service will continue to work closely with local partners to reach these groups, helping to reduce health inequalities and reduce smoking rates across the county.
Amanda Healy, Durham County Council’s director of public health, said:
“Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable illness and early death in County Durham, and reducing smoking rates is a key priority for us. The benefits to quitting are vast, improving your health with both immediate and long-term advantages.
“We have a clear ambition to reduce the percentage of people smoking to five or less by 2030 and strengthening our support to help people stop is an important part of achieving this.
“This service, delivered by Thrive Tribe, builds on the assistance already available and will help more residents to access flexible, effective support to quit.”
Tim Roberts, CEO at Thrive Tribe adds:
“We know that stopping smoking can be difficult, but with the right support, people are far more likely to succeed.
Our focus is on making support easy to access and tailored to each individual — whether that’s face-to-face, over the phone or online. We’re working with partners across County Durham to make sure more people can access the help they need to quit for good.”
As well as improving health, quitting smoking can also have a significant financial impact, with the average smoker spending over £2,300 a year on tobacco.
How to access support
Residents who live or work in County Durham can access free support by:
· Visiting the website: https://www.smokefreecountydurham.co.uk/
· Calling: 0800 772 0565
· Speaking to a GP, pharmacist or other local health professional
South West Durham News covering news across County Durham.
