Are you ready to say ‘Today is the Day’ to quit smoking?

Smokefree Sheffield is supporting ‘Today is the Day’, a new campaign encouraging smokers to quit today.

Launched by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), the campaign features a heartfelt plea from respiratory doctor Ruth Sharrock for smokers to quit today to protect themselves from smoking-related diseases and increased risk of severe illness from COVID19. Smoking is the largest cause of preventable death in Sheffield responsible for over 795 deaths a year and every year a further 939 children take up smoking in the local area.

“Smoking remains the biggest killer in Sheffield, and we want to encourage all smokers to give quitting a go. Quitting smoking can rapidly reduce your risk of a range of life-threatening illnesses. Our dedicated local stop smoking service can help support you through your quit attempt with expert advice and medications to deal with cravings. Please visit the Smokefree Sheffield website to access local support, we have a range of options available. The service is very much open for business and ready to support you in your quit attempt.”

– Greg Fell, Director for Public Health Sheffield

Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, 92,681 smokers in Yorkshire and The Humber have quit smoking, according to a new analysis by ASH and University College London.

“The coronavirus pandemic has made us all conscious of the need to protect ourselves, our families and loved ones. If you smoke, now is the time to quit to keep yourself healthy. It’s never too late to quit and experience health benefits, even if you are already unwell. Quitting smoking is the best thing smokers can do to improve their health so I’m proud to be supporting the Today is the Day campaign.”

– Cllr Mary Lea, Cabinet Member for Culture, Parks and Leisure

However, a further 49,424 smokers across the region have tried to quit but been unsuccessful. The campaign, funded by the Department of Health and Social Care, will be directing smokers to effective forms of support to quit on the NHS Smokefree website. The campaign builds on successful campaigns in the North East and Greater Manchester and will target smokers across the region through a combination of radio, digital audio and online adverts.

“Over 92,000 smokers have succeeded in stopping smoking in Yorkshire and The Humber since COVID-19 hit us, but that still leaves many thousands more smokers who have not. This campaign is designed to encourage those who’ve not yet succeeded, to wake up and decide today is the day to stop smoking.”

– Deborah Arnott, Chief Executive of ASH

Make today the day for taking that first step on your quit journey. There is a range of free, friendly online and telephone support available to help you succeed.