For World No Tobacco Day 2022, smokers are being urged to consider one more reason to quit – the threat to the environment that smoking poses.
World No Tobacco Day was created by the World Health Organization (WHO) and is held on 31st May every year.
In 2021, 643 people set a quit date and 301 quit, a quit rate of 47% using Jersey’s Help2Quit Service.
This awareness day is another opportunity for people to think about quitting smoking. It informs people on the dangers of using tobacco, business practices of tobacco companies, what WHO does to fight the tobacco epidemic and globally what people can do to claim their right to health and living health and to protect future generations from the known harms of tobacco.
People who stop smoking and remain completely abstinent with not even a puff on a cigarette for 28 days are five times more likely to quit for good
This year’s theme is about the harm tobacco makes on the environment which includes cutting down trees and billions of tonnes of water to make cigarette as well as tonnes of CO2 Emissions released into the air raising global temperatures and billions of tons of water.
Dr Rhona Reardon, Help2Quit Lead Nurse Specialist, said: “Quitting smoking as well as being good for the planet is one of the single most important things smokers can do to improve their health. The recent smoking profile shows that smoking rates in people over the age of 16 is now 14%, a one percentage drop from the previous profile. There is still work to do to encourage those smokers still left in Jersey to quit smoking.
We are continuing to encourage healthcare professionals to learn about the best way to help encourage their clients and patients to use the Stop Smoking Service. Smokers may want to quit, but may be unaware that they are three times more likely to quit smoking with support than going it alone”
Help2Quit has a team of specialist nurses who provide intensive support to those smokers who might find it more difficult to quit including pregnant women, people with long-term mental and physical health problems.
There are also 23 local pharmacies who offer stop smoking support in various locations around the island. Health care professionals can increase the number of people deciding to make a quit attempt by making people aware they are more likely to quit with support and signposting or referring people direct to the service.
Smokers who want to find out more about giving up can find details of their nearest pharmacy here. Those who may need more intensive support to quit – such as pregnant women and/or their partners, or Islanders with a long-term health condition – can find out about specialist support by calling Help2Quit’s free phone number on 0800 735 1155.
