Barnsley stop smoking service supports new national campaign

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Barnsley NHS stop smoking service, run by South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, is supporting the launch of a new hard-hitting health campaign which is encouraging people to quit smoking over health concerns, by making the invisible damage visible.

The Department of Health campaign will show smokers that just 15 cigarettes cause a mutation that can lead to cancerous tumours and adverts will show a tumour growing on a cigarette as it is smoked.

These are the first shock adverts since the “fatty cigarette” advert eight years ago and come in response to statistics that show more than a third of smokers still think the health risks associated with smoking are greatly exaggerated.

Designed to show that every cigarette is potentially harmful, the campaign will send a tough message about the dangers of smoking to a new generation of young people – many of whom will never have seen such hard-hitting messaging since they took up the habit.

Since the last campaign, focusing on the health harms of smoking in 2004, it is estimated that more than 3 million people have been admitted to hospital with a smoking related disease and more than 570,000 people are estimated to have died because of a smoking related condition –195 people each day.

Speaking about the new campaign Barnsley NHS stop smoking service co-ordinator Zoe Styring said, “Many people underestimate the serious health harms associated with smoking. This campaign, which will run for nine weeks, goes back to the hard-hitting approach, which many younger smokers may not have seen.

It’s important for people to remember though that it’s never too late to stop and figures show you’re four times more likely to quit smoking for good if you use NHS stop smoking services. We urge local people considering quitting to get in touch with our service for free support and advice.”

The Barnsley stop smoking team is part of the local health improvement service, which is provided by the South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. The team offers free friendly support and advice on stop smoking medications.

If you live in Barnsley, and want to know more about this free service contact the specialist stop smoking service on 01226 737077, or visit www.stopsmokingbarnsley.nhs.uk

Barnsley stop smoking service supports new national campaign

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