Stub it out: Oldham smokers kick habit

MORE than 1,800 people successfully quit smoking in Oldham in just one year after setting a date to kick the habit.

According to the NHS Information Centre between April 2009 and the end of March this year, 4,465 people set a stop date and of those 1,825 succeeded — a 41-per-cent success rate.

Smokers who said they had stopped were given a carbon monoxide test four weeks after their chosen quit date to prove they had not smoked.

Shauna Dixon, director of clinical leadership with NHS Oldham, said: “The key message we want to get out to people is that it’s never too late to give up and there are dramatic improvements to life and health as a result.

“The stop smoking service provides access to the best treatments, ensuring the physical addiction is managed and they offer advice on how to deal with the triggers for smoking.

“People are four times more likely to stop smoking with the help of a stop smoking service.

New Year resolutions played a part in stopping smoking. January to March saw more than one-third of the total number of quitters give up their habit.

The figures are only for people who have sought help from the NHS, meaning the figure could be much higher with people deciding to quit alone.