Smokers in Medway are being encouraged to access the support available to quit this Stoptober.
It is estimated that smoking causes almost 75,000 deaths every single year, making it the leading preventable cause of premature death nationwide.
Stoptober is a national campaign which highlights that making it to 28 days smoke free means you are five times more likely to quit for good.
Since 2015, our Stop Smoking Service has supported more than 10,000 residents to successfully quit smoking.
Medway’s Stop Smoking Service is there to help and provide the support you need to quit. The service is completely free and offers a wide range of support, including one-to-one support both in person and over the phone. There is also an online text to quit messaging service with tips and support.
The face-to-face appointments are available at:
- Smokefree Advice Centre, Chatham;
- Wayfield Family Hub, Chatham;
- Megan CIC, Chatham;
- Balmoral Gardens Healthy Living Centre, Gillingham;
- The Sunlight Centre, Gillingham;
- Stood Community Hall, Strood;
- The Net Hub, Walderslade;
- The Magpie Centre & Community Café, Luton.
Residents who smoke, and are aged 18 and above, and contact our stop smoking service for support are also offered a free re-usable vape starter kit, with up to 10 liquids at the appropriate strength to treat their addiction.
Leave you feeling and being healthier
Cllr Teresa Murray, Medway Council’s Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Public Health, said: “Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death in our country. There is never a bad time to decide to stop smoking, and if it is something you have been thinking about recently why not use Stoptober as the chance to make the change and kick the habit.
“Quitting will leave you feeling and being healthier. Our trained Stop Smoking team are incredibly friendly and helpful, and they are ready to help and support you through your journey to a smoke-free life.”
Giving up smoking was one of the main reasons why I’m able to walk again
One Medway resident who got in touch and received support through Medway Council’s Stop Smoking Service is Peter. He said: “Giving up smoking was one of the main reasons why I’m able to walk again. If I hadn’t of given up smoking, I would have lost my leg and that would have been it.
“Since I have given up smoking, which is now about 14 weeks ago, I went to Camden and I was able to walk around all day. I wouldn’t have been able to do that three months ago, I would have walked 40 yards and that would have been it.
“My sponsor, Julie, was absolutely brilliant - and the pharmacist, I honestly and truly recommend the pharmacist at Fenn pharmacy in Park Wood who actually helped me through it, and I appreciate it so much.”