Smokers living in North East Lincolnshire will be able to benefit from a Government scheme encouraging them to quit with the aid of a vape.
The swap to stop pilot scheme will see smokers ditch their cigarettes for a free vape starter kit as part of a Twelve-week programme of support. People signing up to the programme will be offered a choice of products, strengths and flavours.
The Government’s swap to stop scheme, which was first announced earlier this year by Minster for Primary Care and Public Health, Neil O’Brien OBE, will be aimed at all adult smokers across North East Lincolnshire with a targeted approach in areas of deprivation, social housing and workplaces.
In one North East Lincolnshire ward, over 40% of mums smoked whilst pregnant in the last five years. The region also has a higher rate of smoking-related illnesses such as lung cancer and COPD than the England average.
The scheme is part of a series of new measures to help the government meet its ambition of being smokefree by 2030 – reducing smoking rates to 5% or less.
Up to 2 out of 3 lifelong smokers will die from smoking.
Councillor Stan Shreeve, deputy leader and portfolio holder for health, wellbeing and adult social care at North East Lincolnshire Council, welcomed the move:
“Smoking costs us all a great deal – whether it’s the loss of a loved one, or the billions in taxpayers money that goes towards the treatment of smoking-related illnesses.
“I’m hopeful that this new Government initiative will really help some of our residents to quit the habit.
“We know that vaping is not without risks, but it is 95% better than cigarette smoking, and has risen in popularity among those seeking to quit. Indeed our own programmes show that 48% of those who used a vape or e-cigarette to help them quit ended up kicking the habit, so we now it’s an effective method of giving up smoking for good.”
To receive support to stop smoking, visit: livewell.nelincs.gov.uk/your-wellbeing/wellbeing-service/.
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