The perfect Christmas gift for you and your family - Stop Smoking

Smokers are being encouraged to celebrate Christmas by quitting through local ‘stop smoking’ services and treat themselves and their loved ones to an extra special gift as they improve their health and save money.

Free support and advice across Greater Manchester comes as many will be feeling the pinch of Christmas this year, with some already considering how they could free up money in the run-up to next Christmas.

Local people choosing to stop smoking can expect to feel the health benefits immediately with breathing becoming easier and energy levels increasing after just 72 hours.

On average, a pack a day smoker will save around £250 each month and can save up to £3,000 a year by going smokefree. Savings could pay for an extra special Christmas in 2017, or simply to help your budget stretch further each week.

Stop smoking services across Greater Manchester offer free face-to-face support, with research showing that smokers are four times more likely to stop with specialist NHS support.

The Bury Lifestyle Service is waiting to help: call them on 0161 253 7554 or email LifestyleService@bury.gov.uk

Andrea Crossfield, chief executive of Healthier Futures, a local social enterprise working to help people in Greater Manchester live longer, healthier, happier lives said: “Quitting smoking is the single best thing you can do for your health. If you stop smoking even a week before Christmas, by 25 December your blood oxygen and carbon monoxide levels will both have returned to normal. Breathing becomes easier and energy levels increase. And your ability to taste and smell is improved.

“It will also save money which could go towards a magical Christmas next year or enjoying more every day pleasures with your family throughout 2017.”

Councillor Trevor Holt, Bury Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “There has never been a better time to quit. Research shows that two thirds of smokers want to quit and your local stop smoking service can support you to achieve this through friendly, expert advice and support. It doesn’t matter if you have visited them before but it didn’t quite work out, you can access support as many times as you need.

“You don’t need to go through your quit journey alone. As well as our local stop smoking service join together with friends, family and colleagues to support each other through your quit attempt.”

Approximately 451,221 people smoke across Greater Manchester. The more people who quit, the healthier local communities become and savings could boost the local economy.

A ‘5 steps to quitting’ video to highlight the benefits of going smokefree and promote local services can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/cJbKY1gRhwQ

ENDS

Press release issued: 20 December 2016.

Note to editors:

Smoking costs:

People who smoke 15 cigarettes a day who quit would save around:

• £47 a week – which could pay for a Star Wars Remote Control BB-8 toy and a DVD.
• £205 a month – the cost of a PlayStation4 games console.
• £616 over three months – the equivalent of travel and a one-night stay for a family of four to London with a visit to the Harry Potter studio, plus an evening meal out.
• £1,233 in six months – a four-night holiday for a family of four to Disneyland Paris next Christmas.
• £2,467 in one year – which would cover the cost of a family day trip (2 adults and 2 children) to meet Santa Claus in Lapland plus a husky and reindeer ride for Christmas 2017.