Wiltshire resident and former smoker, Laura Deacon is supporting Wiltshire Council in urging smokers to get the help they need to give quitting a go this Stoptober.

Laura, who lives on a narrow boat in Devizes had smoked for 20 years when she got help from Wiltshire Council’s stop smoking service to quit.

Laura said: “My stop smoking advisor really helped me focus on quitting and our weekly check-ins made me accountable so I couldn’t relapse. I read a lot of books and did everything I could to keep myself motivated – I wrote down a reason for quitting every day and avoided triggers as much as I could. My partner still smokes so that was difficult but having a vape to use really helped me get through the cravings.

“The service is free and they can help you access free stop smoking aids like a vape – not having to spend money on quitting made a big difference. Now I’ve been quit for a year I find it so much easier to breathe and I’ve saved a lot of money.”

Wiltshire Council is supporting Stoptober and is calling on people from across the county to ‘quit together’ by joining forces with a family member, friend or colleague to make a quit attempt this October. Stoptober is a national campaign that encourages people to quit smoking for 28 days as research shows if you remain smokefree for four weeks you are five times more likely to stay quit.

Smoking remains the single biggest cause of preventable illness and death, and quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health.

There are now more ways than ever to quit – including with our Smoke Free app, stop smoking medication, nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), and vaping. With both stop smoking aids and expert support from local stop smoking services people are three times as likely to stop smoking successfully.

Wiltshire residents can get six months’ free access to the Smoke Free app which helps people control cravings, monitor health improvements and money saved, and even chat to a stop smoking expert 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Cllr Clare Cape, Cabinet Member for Public Health said: “We want to make it as easy as possible for anyone who smokes to access free stop smoking support that works for them – and to never give up on giving up. There are so many options and combinations of tools for stopping smoking. Even if a smoker has tried to stop before, perhaps they just haven’t yet found the tools and support that works for them yet.

“Our Stop Smoking Services are available to anyone in Wiltshire that wants to be smokefree, either from our skilled Health Coaches or from most GP surgeries across Wiltshire. Using stop smoking services more than triples a person’s chance of successfully quitting than unsupported quit attempts.”

“Our Stop Smoking service is tailored to the individual and is non-judgemental, recognising that smoking is an addiction, not a choice. It supports people to make changes, manage cravings and have a plan in place to manage times when it might be tricky to not smoke and staying smokefree for good. Please get in touch to explore the free support options available.  Our trained advisors are here to help you start your smokefree journey. Stop smoking medications are available at only the cost of a prescription charge and free if you do not normally pay for prescriptions”.

Dr Wini Ogonna, from the Acute Medical Unit at Salisbury District Hospital, said: “Smoking is one of the most destructive things that most people can do to their health. It can really affect not only the length of your life, but the quality of your life in the long-term as well.

“This Stoptober, we’re urging people to make a quit attempt as the benefits of stopping smoking are real and immediate. Within as little as 24 to 48 hours after your last cigarette, the poisonous carbon monoxide exits your bloodstream, while your lungs actively clear out mucus. What’s more, the longer you stay smokefree, the lower your risk of other serious health issues like heart attacks, cancer, and lung diseases.

“We know that quitting smoking is difficult, so don’t be disheartened if you’ve tried to quit before and haven’t been successful. It’s never too late to quit. It is really important to keep in mind that every day you don’t smoke, it’s having a hugely beneficial impact on your health and you’re adding months and years to your life expectancy.”

For links to download the Smoke Free app or to contact Wiltshire Council’s stop smoking service, visit www.wiltshire.gov.uk/smokefree