Stubbing it out: more than £300,000 saved by Lincolnshire quitters

Smokers in Lincolnshire, who participated in a county-wide Quit Smoking programme last year, managed to avoid smoking over half a million cigarettes between them in the last six months of 2020, saving more than £300,000 in the process, according to data released by healthy lifestyle service provider One You Lincolnshire.
By The Newsroom
Published 11th Jan 2021, 09:59 BST
Stubbing it outStubbing it out
Stubbing it out

During the second half of 2020, 900 people participated in the programme, each, on average, previously smoking 18 cigarettes a day.

Across the twelve weeks of the programme, with participants smoke free for around 10 weeks, it is estimated 520,110 cigarettes were not smoked, equating to more than 26,000 packs of 20.

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With the average pack of the most expensive cigarettes currently costing £12.73, it is estimated that £331,000 was saved in money that would otherwise have been spent on cigarettes.

These figures are released as Public Health England reveals that 43% of regular smokers plan to make a quit attempt in 2021.

They also reported that 29% of smokers agreed they had smoked more since the second national lockdown, attributing the change to being worried about their physical and mental health (42%) and having money worries (41%).

Becky Anderson, Smoking Cessation Lead at One You Lincolnshire, said: “Quitting smoking can have a very quick, positive impact.

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“Within 24 Hours after you quit, carbon monoxide and nicotine will be eliminated from your body.

“Between three and nine months after you quit, coughs, wheezing and breathing problems will improve as your lung function is increased by up to 10%.

“One year after you quit, your risk of coronary heart disease is cut in half.”

One You Lincolnshire stop smoking practitioners are available to support smokers who wish to quit. Participants will have up to twelve appointments with a stop smoking advisor to help them remain smoke free and will be up to four times more likely to quit for good with support.

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In addition, medications are discussed at the first appointment. You will be supplied with all the medication you need with nicotine replacement therapy being sent to your door.

Becky continued: “Everybody’s personal journey is unique to them.

“Someone may want to stop smoking because they’re concerned about Covid or other respiratory conditions, because they’re keeping an eye on costs or for many other reasons.

“That’s why it’s so important to have the support of a stop smoking advisor to help tailor to their needs.”

For more information, visit https://www.oneyoulincolnshire.org.uk/lincolnshire-residents

Related topics:Public Health EnglandParticipants