How many in the Banbury area will stop smoking this Stoptober?

There has never been a better time to take the step and give up cigarettes – for the sake of people’s health and their wallet, the county's public health officials say.

The benefits of quitting start almost immediately and research shows that smokers who give up for a whole month are up to five times more likely to stay smoke-free for good.

Successful attempts are also four times more likely with the help of a stop smoking service - and Oxfordshire County Council has once again joined forces with SmokeFreeLife Oxfordshire to provide those that want to quit with the support they need in the form of virtual clinics and online and telephone support.

Just two days after quitting, sense of taste and smell will start to improve, at three months the amount air that lungs can hold has increased and by a year the risk of a heart attack will have halved.

A 20-a-day smoker can save over £300 a month by not buying cigarettes.

One smoker from Banbury said: "I can't tell you how many times I think how grateful I am that I am no longer smoking. I'm saving a fortune."

Lorraine, a mother of four from Oxford, has recently completed a 12-week course and has manged to quit smoking. “I was smoking 20 a day and I'm so happy as I have managed to save over £700 pounds," she said.

“I will use this to take my kids on holiday once we can. This is all down to the amazing advisors and the support they have given me over the last few months. Thank you so much.”

Oxfordshire County Council Consultant in Public Health, Adam Briggs said: “Ahead of winter and flu season, there’s never been a better time to try to give up smoking. Covid-19 has shone an even greater light on the health risks that come with smoking at all ages. If you only make one attempt to quit this year, make it this Stoptober.”

Dr Timothy SC Hinks, Wellcome Trust Career Development Fellow and Honorary Consultant at Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford said: “The great news is that many thousands of people manage to quit smoking each year, and it is never too late to quit. Quitting smoking is also the best way to protect your children and grandchildren, by halving their risk of developing serious respiratory diseases like asthma that I treat in my daily work.

“Many people think they’d never manage to quit, but there’s lots of support people can get from their local smoking cessation teams, like Here for Health at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust and SmokeFreeLife Oxfordshire in the wider Oxfordshire community. Getting help from a team greatly increases the chance you’ll be able to quit, and I find people then never look back. For anyone considering quitting I’d encourage them to contact Here for Health or SmokefreeLife Oxfordshire”.