Smokers are being urged to prepare for battle and attempt to quit smoking for good on No Smoking Day, which takes place on Wednesday 12 March 2014. Nearly one in five adults in the Isle of Man smoke (19.1%), but studies show that around two-thirds of smokers want to quit.
The theme for No Smoking Day this year is ‘V for Victory’, which hopes to inspire smokers across the UK to win the fight against cigarettes and tobacco. The campaign will help smokers on the road to victory, providing information, support and encouragement to put together a personal battle plan so that they are in the best possible position to make a successful attempt to quit on the day.
Members of the Quit4You team will be at the Isle of Man College Health Fayre from 9.30am to 1pm on Wednesday 12 March to offer information, advice and inspiration to quitters and send them on the road to victory. Quit4You will also be on hand to provide an opportunity for people to find out their own personal Carbon Monoxide reading.
Minister for Health, Hon Howard Quayle MHK, said:
'No Smoking Day is a great opportunity for the Department to encourage and support smokers in the Isle of Man to quit alongside hundreds of thousands of other people across the UK. Quitting smoking remains one of the most important actions people can take to improve their health and we want to arm smokers with information and support that will send them on the road to victory. We are encouraging smokers on the Island to mark Wednesday 12 March in their diary, and take the opportunity to join others who are attempting to stub out cigarettes and tobacco for good.'
Anita Imberger, Health Psychologist and Tobacco Lead, said:
'We know that quitting isn’t easy but we want to reassure smokers that support is available to them and that they can win the battle. There’s a much higher chance of succeeding with support: people are actually four times more likely to quit if they combine a product such as Nicotine Replacement Therapy with sessions at their local stop smoking service.
'For this reason, we want to spread the word about Quit4You, the Island’s free Stop Smoking Service, and encourage anyone who wants practical advice and support to attend one of the weekly clinics that we hold around the Island. We can also offer private appointments for pregnant women, partners and families. Even if you’ve tried many times before, there are new products and different ways of quitting that might just make a difference this time.'
For more information about the Island’s free Stop Smoking Service, visit www.Quit4You.gov.im, phone Quit4You (Public Health) on +44 1624 642404, or email tobacco@gov.im. For No Smoking Day posters or leaflets please phone Public Health Resources on +44 1624 642645. No Smoking Day also offers information and an online forum where you can get motivation, help and support from thousands of quitters at www.nosmokingday.org.uk.
