Smoking

Smoking is the single biggest preventable cause of premature death in the UK today.

Every year, over 100,000 people die from smoking related causes, killing 1 in every 2 long term users.

It is estimated that over 35,000 Sunderland residents smoke and levels of smoking amongst children are higher than England as a whole.

Reasons to quit

Stopping smoking is one of the best things you can do to improve your health. Your body starts to repair itself from the moment you stop smoking, and you will start to feel the benefits from the day you quit.

Quitting can save you money too; you could save over £400 a month if you stop buying cigarettes; try this cost calculator, to see how much you could save.

Getting help to quit

Sunderland Stop Smoking Service offers free, friendly, confidential support and advice to help people who want to stop smoking. As well as providing specialist advice and support to quit, including a free app, the service can signpost to other local community services as well as giving you tips and tools to help with giving up. Smokers can also get free vapes and one to one support to help them quit through the Swap to Stop (opens new window) scheme. It's been proven that using a vape along with specialist support helps smokers quit for good.

See Sunderland Stop Smoking Service  or call 0800 169 9913.

If you would like further information, you may find the links below useful:

The NHS Better Health website offers a lot of information on how to stop smoking, the benefits of quitting, a free app, on-line quit smoking support groups and email support.

Find out how much smoking costs you, what the risks to you and your family's health are, and why now is the right time to quit on the Fresh Quit website.

ASH is a public health charity focused on eliminating the harm caused by tobacco.