ASH calls for more visible help to quit

Published on Tuesday 11 March 2008 09:30

THE chief executive of ASH Scotland has called for stop smoking services to be made more accessible ahead of No Smoking Day tomorrow.

Sheila Duffy welcomed the 25th anniversary of the event aimed at persuading more people to try and quit.

However, she also stressed the need to make sure people had access to support and advice all year round.

Ms Duffy, who is based in Edinburgh, said: "No Smoking Day is a really great opportunity for smokers to quit or to find out about local services that can support them to quit.

"Thirteen thousand five hundred people die every year of smoking-related diseases in Scotland and thousands of others are affected by ill health due to tobacco, so anything that will help people to quit should be supported.

"This year's theme is the Great No Smoking Day Challenge, encouraging people to sign up for a week-long quit challenge and get sponsorship from friends and family. So as well as benefiting your health and the health of those around you by quitting smoking, you will also be raising funds for your favourite charity.

"ASH Scotland would like to see smoking cessation services more available and accessible throughout Scotland, especially in disadvantaged communities where smoking rates are highest.

"When it comes to smoking, the health inequalities gap in our country remains wide. Smoking rates in deprived areas are around 40 per cent – more than double the rate in more affluent areas."