Half of smokers (56%) admit their smoking causes worry or arguments ·
A third of smokers conceal their smoking from loved ones.
New research conducted for local NHS Stop Smoking Services shows that
England could be in for a very merry family time this year as one in three
smokers vowed to cut down over the festive season as they see the time
as a special family occasion, and over a third (39%) are planning to stop
completely in the New Year[1].
Smoking emerges as a key catalyst for family rows with over half of all
smokers (56%) believing their smoking causes arguments in their relationships.
A further third of smokers admit to concealing their smoking from their
partner or family, using tactics such as lying about the amount they smoke
or even whether they have smoked at all, through to inventing reasons
to get out of the house and have a cigarette.
Whilst health and money remain key reasons for stopping smoking (74%
and 56% respectively), as the New Year arrives and thoughts turn to the
family over half of all smokers (54%) acknowledge their smoking is damaging
to loved ones and half (50%) feel guilty and anxious about the impact
their smoking has on family and friends. Fortunately however a third of
smokers are motivated to quit specifically to alleviate the concerns of
their loved ones.
Smokers seem to be realising that quitting could be the best gift they
could give, with 70% of smokers expecting their loved ones to react positively
if they successfully stop smoking and 47% specifically stating their loved
ones would feel proud of them. Advice from experts proves that it’s best
not to go cold turkey, using NHS support means you are up to four times
more likely to stop smoking successfully.
Smokers in the East Midlands are keenest to quit this New Year with nearly
half (46%) planning to stop smoking. Londoners however are the least likely
to stub out their smoking for good in 2009 with only 27% planning to quit.
Professor Robert West from the Health Behaviour Research Centre at University
College London said: “Christmas and New Year are key times for people
to plan to stop smoking. With over 2,000 deaths every week due to smoking
related diseases, it’s very encouraging to see so many smokers taking
note of the concerns of their family and friends and planning to be smokefree
in 2009.
You’re up to four times more likely to stop smoking successfully if you
use NHS support, so I urge smokers to give themselves the best possible
chance and get in touch with their local NHS Stop Smoking Service.”
Carol Savage, a local NHS Stop Smoking Adviser from Sheffield Stop Smoking
Service said: “The NHS Stop Smoking Service provides people with support
and practical advice when they come to us wanting to stop smoking. We
work to find the right solution for each individual, because everyone
has different needs when it comes to quitting. If you’re one of the 39
per cent of smokers looking to stop smoking next year, get in touch with
your local NHS Stop Smoking Service for your best chance of a successful
quit attempt.”
Maria McGuinness stopped smoking earlier this year using her local NHS
Stop Smoking Service. Maria is 45, married, and has two sons. She works
as a receptionist in Poole, Dorset and said: “After my step Dad died of
lung cancer, my two boys were desperate for me to quit. They were terrified
I was going to die too. Knowing what happened to my Dad and seeing how
much it meant to my boys, I knew I had to really crack the smoking.
“Going to the local NHS Stop Smoking Service group session was the best
thing I could have done. The advisers and the other quitters were really
inspirational. Stopping smoking with a group of other people made me feel
much stronger and whenever we struggled, we were there to help each other.
“The children are a lot happier and stress-free now that I no longer
smoke and we’re all looking forward to a smokefree house. I’d recommend
the local NHS Stop Smoking Service to anyone who’s thinking of quitting
this year. Don’t go cold turkey, give yourself the best chance possible
and get the support you need.” If you’re thinking of quitting, call the
NHS Smoking Helpline on 0800169 0 169 from 7am to 11pm, 7 days a week.
You can speak to a trained adviser who can tell you all about the range
of free support available from the NHS to help you stop smoking.
Visit www.nhs.uk/smokefree
for more information.
[1] All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from The
Survey Shop. Total sample size was 504 smokers adult smokers in England.
Fieldwork was undertaken between the 12 and 26 November 2008. The survey
was carried out by telephone. The figures have been weighted and are representative
of all English smokers (aged 18+).
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