Stoptober – October 2012 campaign to encourage smokers to quit

23/09/2012

Smokers are being asked to give up smoking for 28 days from 1 October in the first ever mass quit attempt launched by the Chief Medical Officer Professor Dame Sally Davies.

The innovative campaign, Stoptober, is backed by Cancer Research UK and the British Heart Foundation, and is the first 28-day quit attempt of its kind to encourage the nation’s 8 million smokers to give up.

People who stop smoking for 28 days are 5 times more likely to stay smokefree, so smokers who sign up will be given support and encouragement throughout the month.
Individuals who wish to take part  will be able to download the Stoptober app (available free from the Smokefree website) and access the Smokefree Facebook page where they will get additional tips and advice. They will also get a daily message providing additional support and encouragement throughout the month.

Smokers interested in giving up can ask their local pharmacist for a free support pack.
Smoking remains the biggest cause of premature death in England and is responsible for the loss of more than 100,000 lives in the UK every year.
For more information visit smokefree.nhs.uk/Stoptober.

Discussion

During October, employers could help their employees to give up smoking by advertising the ‘Stoptober’ event and encouraging employees to access the support available on the Stoptober website.  More advice can be obtained at http://smokefree.nhs.uk/

Where a Healthwork Occupational Health Adviser (OHA) regularly visits your workplace, our OHAs are happy to work with you and your employees during October to help employees try to quit smoking.