Sefton Council is urging smokers to show some love for themselves, their family and friends by quitting smoking.

Broken, heart shaped, ash tray

Adverts featuring a broken, heart shaped, ash tray urge smokers to ‘Quit Smoking for You and Your Loved Ones' by contacting the Smoke Free Sefton service at www.smokefreesefton.co.uk or by calling 0300 100 1000.

They are appearing across the Borough as well as on a range digital channels that people use.

Tailored weekly advice 

Smoke Free Sefton can offer smokers weekly advice tailored to their needs. They also receive support from a Specialist Practitioner who will help them plan and manage their efforts to give up.

It is a vape and e-cigarette friendly service and can offer a choice of stop smoking medications as well. The Smoke Free Sefton team work alongside the NHS, local pharmacies, and other organisations to support people’s journeys to quitting.

Cllr Mhairi Doyle, Sefton Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing said: “Although the overall numbers of people in England who smoke has reduced, it remains higher across the North West where around one out of every eight people smokes.

“The cold fact is that no matter who they are, tobacco kills up to half of the people who use it, making smoking the main cause of early preventable death throughout the world.

“We know it’s not easy to quit smoking, but with his campaign, we are encouraging people to think of themselves, their families and friends and start on the road to  quitting with Smoke Free Sefton.”

Unique approach

When people contact them, Smoke Free Sefton take time to understand their journey with smoking. This unique approach helps the team provide them with a personalised plan and help them work towards their goal of becoming smoke-free.

Smoke Free Sefton recognise that switching to vaping can be a beneficial step that deliver smokers nicotine without traditional cigarettes’ harmful tar and toxic chemicals. They also know that Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) and specialised medications can help to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms, making the journey to quitting easier.

Most successful methods

Cllr Doyle added: “Recent research by a team at by a team at University College London found that the most successful methods for quitting include getting using support services like those Smoke Free Sefton can offer.

“These are much more likely to work than relying on willpower or over-the-counter products such as gum and patches.

“So, we are urging people to take that first step and visit www.smokefreesefton.co.uk or call them on  0300 100 1000."

You can find out more about Smoke Free Sefton here.