Council backs No Smoking Day

Blackburn with Darwen Council is backing No Smoking Day taking place today, March 11.

This year the British Heart Foundation, which runs the initiative, is calling on smokers to bust the common myths associated with smoking and commit to quitting today. For example, new research just released shows that smokers have a 70 per cent increased risk of anxiety and depression when compared with non-smokers, despite the commonly held perception that lighting up is a stress reliever.

The charity expects nearly one million smokers to attempt to quit on the day.

In Blackburn with Darwen, free support to quit is available via the Blackburn with Darwen Stop Smoking Service. To support the drive, the service has a stall in place in Blackburn Market today until 3pm on No Smoking Day. Health trainers are on hand to give free CO checks as well as information, advice and guidance.

The wider service can also offer one-to-one consultation with a trained stop smoking adviser, follow-up appointments, clinic times, quit kits and information and signposting support.

Research shows you are four times more likely to quit with this extra support than stopping on your own.

Councillor Mohammed Khan, Executive Member for Health and Adult Social Care, said:

No Smoking Day is a great opportunity for us to encourage and support smokers in Blackburn with Darwen to quit alongside hundreds of thousands of other people across the UK. There’s a much higher chance of succeeding with support and this is why Blackburn with Darwen’s Stop Smoking Service is spreading the word to smokers about the range of services and resources which are locally available to them. Our activity is crucial to helping people on the road to victory and towards a healthier and wealthier smoke-free life.

For more information visit: https://nosmokingday.org.uk

For further information on the stop smoking service, phone (01254) 587999 or email: quitsmoking@blackburn.gov.uk.

For a list of local stop smoking clinics visit: http://refreshbwd.com and search ‘stop smoking service.’