Local people invited to kick the habit

The Calderdale stop smoking service, which offers free support to the public and businesses to go smokefree, is inviting local people to enrol on its new stop smoking sessions in Mixenden to kick the habit for good.

The new sessions start at Mixenden Activity Centre, Clough Lane HX2 8SH, on Thursday 8th September. There will be two sessions running each week, one for newcomers at 11am and another for returning quitters at 9.30am.

Even if you can’t attend the first week it doesn’t matter as newcomers are welcome each week after which they join the returners group.

The specialist stop smoking team is part of the health improvement service in Calderdale, which is provided by the South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. The team offers free friendly support and nicotine replacement therapy such as nicotine inhalers and patches. They can also help with access to Zyban and Champix to help smokers who choose to go smokefree.

With smoking being the UK’s leading cause of preventable deaths, resulting in around 100,000 deaths a year, going smokefree is the single most effective way you can improve your health.

Specialist stop smoking advisor Jan Spence said, "The body has an amazing ability to heal itself. The minute you stop smoking every organ starts repairing damage and the risk of serious illness is reduced, so it’s never too late to stop. Research shows people are four times more likely to succeed with professional support than willpower alone. We can provide motivation and help to get someone on the right track to giving up smoking for good. Not only is it good for your health but it can also help to save money as the average 20 a day smoker spends £182 per month on cigarettes – that works out at over £2,100 a year!"

If you live in Calderdale, and would like to know more about this free service or to book a place for your first session contact the specialist stop smoking service on 01422 281505.