World Smokefree Day – a chance for Cantabrians

MEDIA RELEASE

May 30, 2011
World Smokefree Day – a chance for Cantabrians to ‘Give Quitting a Go Again’

Smokefree promoters are concerned more Cantabrians have taken up smoking again and fewer are trying to quit in the wake of the February earthquakes.

Despite the set back, smokers should not despair because World Smokefree Day tomorrow (Tuesday, May 31, 2011) is a great time to renew their resolve to quit and put one effect of this stressful time behind them.

Canterbury Smokefree coordinator Vivien Daley says Canterbury calls to Quitline are down from 14 percent to 9 percent since the earthquake and anecdotal feedback from General Practice teams and quit organisations is more people have started smoking again.

“We have seen reports on television and in the paper of people stressed by the aftershocks and turning back to cigarettes as a support,” Vivien says.

“This is very worrying but an understandable trend given what we’ve all been through in the last nine months. For smokers, the memory of the way they used to handle crises by smoking was triggered by the enormity of the earthquakes and the effect they have had on our lives.”

Most smokers who had quit before the quakes will probably be regretting starting again, especially when times are tight and smoking is so costly, she says.

“Quitting is hard and many people have to make several attempts before beating the addiction. My thoughts are with those who have put in all the hard work to quit before the quakes only to be set back.”

Vivien challenges smokers not to let the earthquakes win.

“Using NRT (Nicotine Replacement Therapy) patches, gum or lozenges doubles the changes of successfully quitting and with support from services like Quitline people are up to five times more likely to succeed,” Vivien says.

“Also use World Smokefree Day as an opportunity to take back control – it will make you remember how good it felt to be a non-smoker.”

The theme for this year’s World Smokefree Day is ‘Give Quitting a Go’, but Vivien believes for Cantabrians it really is ‘Give Quitting a Go Again’.

Ex-smoker Torun Moffitt from Burnside is determined not to let the earthquakes stop her realising her New Year resolution of quitting.

Torun says she gave up in January for health reasons but relapsed after the February 22 quake.

“Like a lot of people in Christchurch, I’ve had a very stressful year. The earthquakes and endless aftershocks made it tough to keep off the cigarettes,” Torun says.

“I’m determined to get back on track and quit for good – I have to for the sake of my health. I’m working with my general practice nurse and using patches and lozenges to help make this change permanent.”

For help about how to quit smoking contact:
• Your family General Practice teams who can provide quitting programmes, support and advice.
• Quitline – call 0800 778 778, or visit www.quit.org.nz
• Smokechange – a smokefree service for pregnant women – call (03) 379 9947 or visit www.smokechange.co.nz
• Aukati Kai Paipa – a service to help Maori and their whanau stop smoking – call (03) 364 1771 or visit www.aukatikaipaipa.conz
•

© Scoop Media