Health and wellbeing
New ‘swap to stop’ offer to help Walsall residents quit smoking
Published on
Walsall residents looking to quit smoking now have access to a ‘swap to stop’ offer, incorporating e-cigarettes (also known as vapes) as an extra tool to aid their journey.
The new offer builds upon Be Well Walsall’s service (funded by Walsall Council’s Public Health team) to help Walsall residents manage their health and wellbeing, which includes stop smoking support.
Their free stop smoking service currently provides up to 12 weeks of expert support and vapes will complement this existing offer. There are a number of ways people can be helped to stop smoking, tailored to their needs.
Evidence has shown that people who use e-cigarettes (that allow you to inhale nicotine in a vapour rather than smoke) to quit smoking, as well as having one-to-one support, are more likely to succeed.
While nicotine is addictive, the real danger of smoking comes from the thousands of other harmful chemicals in cigarettes. Vaping and nicotine replacement products (such as patches and gum) offer a much safer way to get nicotine without inhaling tobacco smoke. Public Health’s message for non-smokers, however, remains the same: if they do not smoke, they should not vape.
Anyone living, working or registered with a GP in Walsall can get free stop smoking support from Be Well Walsall and the option to receive a 12-week supply of vapes as an aid to quit smoking.
“ Offering e-cigarettes (vapes) as part of our stop smoking support in Walsall is important to help residents quit smoking and to help them remain quit for the long-term. We believe that offering e-cigarettes as part of a structured quitting plan could help many residents make the transition to a smoke-free life.
We are working towards the ambition to create a Smokefree Generation, for England to be smoke-free by 2030 and meet our local ambitions for Walsall to have reduced smoking rates. Now is the time for you to take back your life and quit smoking. Even if you have attempted to quit before, give it another go. You will see the health benefits from the moment you stop smoking your last cigarette. “
“ Smoking is a leading cause of death and ill health in the country, as well as here in Walsall. Smoking rates have been reducing over time, but there is still a lot more work to do to bring them down to meet our ambitions to be Smokefree by 2030.
Vaping, combined with expert support can be used effectively to help people quit smoking. Though not risk free, vaping is considerably safer than smoking.
Vaping is not recommended for those who have not smoked. Anyone under 18 years old should not be vaping and it is illegal to sell or buy vapes for under 18s.
I would encourage any Walsall residents looking to quit smoking to take up the free support available from Be Well Walsall. “
To access stop smoking support from Be Well Walsall, text SMOKEFREE to 60777 and a health and wellbeing coach will be in touch to discuss further. Alternatively, to find out more visit https://bww.maximusuk.co.uk/ or call 01922 444044.
ENDS
Notes to editor:
- A recent Cochrane review found that e-cigarettes are a more effective smoking cessation aid than traditional nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) such as patches or gum. This is particularly the case when paired with behavioural support.
- Whilst nicotine is an addictive substance, it is not the exposure to nicotine that causes harm to smokers. Rather, it is the cocktail of other toxic chemicals present in cigarettes that poses significant risks to smokers. E-cigarettes and nicotine replacement therapies such as patches or gum allow smokers to get nicotine without having to inhale tobacco smoke. A review of the evidence commissioned by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities found that vaping poses a fraction of the risk that smoking does.
- Advice on using e-cigarettes to quit smoking is available on the NHS website.
- Be Well Walsall is a free wellbeing service to help anyone in Walsall to look after their mental and physical health. Their support includes improving wellbeing, being a healthier weight, stop smoking and NHS Health Checks* (*for eligible residents). To find out more visit https://bww.maximusuk.co.uk/ or call 01922 444044.
- A number of specialist stop smoking services are also available to Walsall residents, offered by Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust. The Tobacco Dependency Service supports anyone going into hospital who is a smoker or has smoked within the previous 30 days. Trained staff work with inpatients to help them quit smoking and offer nicotine replacement therapy. To find out more email wht.tdt@nhs.net
- The Trust also offers pregnant women and their partners to quit smoking through the Walsall Health in Pregnancy service. Specialist stop smoking advisors are able to support women through behaviour change and by providing nicotine replacement therapy. To find out more call 01922 270477.
