Series of animations lead messaging for stop smoking campaign

A  Council campaign is explaining the harms of smoking and promoting the benefits of giving up, signposting people to local areas of support.

Blackburn with Darwen Council launched its stop smoking campaign to coincide with the move to step 4 of the Government’s Covid roadmap – with good respiratory health now more important than ever.

Smoking is the primary cause of preventable illness and premature death, accounting for approximately 74,600 deaths a year in England. About half of all life-long smokers will die prematurely, losing on average about 10 years of life.

The campaign is using a series of animations to explain how smoking harms nearly every organ of the body with messages specifically around the impacts on lungs, mental health, heart, skin, brain, vision and more.

The animations, which are appearing on the borough’s digital advertising assets and on social media, also explain that quitting doesn’t have to feel painful and help is at hand!

Blackburn with Darwen Council provide a specialist stop smoking service delivered within pharmacies with access to Nicotine Replacement Therapy. The service is open to Blackburn with Darwen residents or those registered with a BwD GP.

If you thinking about stopping or reducing smoking, you can access personalised support, motivation and encouragement from Wellbeing Service Health Trainers. Call: (01254) 682037, email: wellbeing@blackburn.gov.uk, or self-refer.

Cllr Brian Taylor, Assistant Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing said:

We know smoking causes cancer and dramatically reduces both quality of life and life expectancy. Our campaign is designed to educate and inform as well as point smokers in the direction of help. As a previous smoker I have personal experience of quitting and know stopping smoking is one of the best things a smoker will ever do for their health. When they stop, they give their lungs the chance to repair and they will be able to breathe easier. There are lots of other benefits too – and they start almost immediately.

As the campaign promotes, we have support available for smokers to quit locally. The sooner they do, the sooner they’ll notice changes to your body and health.