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04/11/2008
Welcomes News As More Smokers Are 'Stubbing It Out'
A leading NI doctor has welcomed new statistics just released by the Department of Health that show how well their campaign to persuade more smokers to 'pack it in' is working.
The figures, relating to the smoking cessation services for 2007/08, are a statistical examination of the people reporting to the smoking cessation services throughout Northern Ireland during the past year.
Across Northern Ireland 21,476 people set a firm 'quit date' through the smoking cessation services - representing an increase of 7,681 (56%) on the figure for the same period last year.
It also emerged that, of those setting a quit date, 2% were under 18 years of age, 30% were aged 18-34, 24% were aged 35-44, 28% were aged 45-59, and 16% were aged 60 and over.
Also, at the critical four-week follow-up point, some 10,971 had successfully quit (based on self-report), with 51% of those setting a quit date.
Commenting, Northern Ireland's Chief Medical Officer, Dr Michael McBride has warmly welcomed the new statistics which he said reveal an increase in the numbers of people trying to give up smoking.
Dr McBride said: "We know that the vast majority of smokers want to give up smoking, and I welcome the 56% increase on the previous year in the number of people who set a quit date through smoking cessation services.
"This increase is particularly impressive given that we already experienced high levels of people kicking the habit in 2007 following the introduction of the smoke-free legislation. The momentum of the legislation is obviously still with us and that can only be a good thing for the health of the people of Northern Ireland.
"We have to ensure that we continue to achieve this success. The Department is currently in the process of rolling forward its Tobacco Action Plan," he said, also noting that: "Smoking is thought to be the single greatest cause of preventable illness and premature death in Northern Ireland.
"With 350,000 smokers in Northern Ireland, we still face a huge challenge. Smoking alone accounts for half the difference in health outcomes for the most deprived in society.
(BMcC)
The figures, relating to the smoking cessation services for 2007/08, are a statistical examination of the people reporting to the smoking cessation services throughout Northern Ireland during the past year.
Across Northern Ireland 21,476 people set a firm 'quit date' through the smoking cessation services - representing an increase of 7,681 (56%) on the figure for the same period last year.
It also emerged that, of those setting a quit date, 2% were under 18 years of age, 30% were aged 18-34, 24% were aged 35-44, 28% were aged 45-59, and 16% were aged 60 and over.
Also, at the critical four-week follow-up point, some 10,971 had successfully quit (based on self-report), with 51% of those setting a quit date.
Commenting, Northern Ireland's Chief Medical Officer, Dr Michael McBride has warmly welcomed the new statistics which he said reveal an increase in the numbers of people trying to give up smoking.
Dr McBride said: "We know that the vast majority of smokers want to give up smoking, and I welcome the 56% increase on the previous year in the number of people who set a quit date through smoking cessation services.
"This increase is particularly impressive given that we already experienced high levels of people kicking the habit in 2007 following the introduction of the smoke-free legislation. The momentum of the legislation is obviously still with us and that can only be a good thing for the health of the people of Northern Ireland.
"We have to ensure that we continue to achieve this success. The Department is currently in the process of rolling forward its Tobacco Action Plan," he said, also noting that: "Smoking is thought to be the single greatest cause of preventable illness and premature death in Northern Ireland.
"With 350,000 smokers in Northern Ireland, we still face a huge challenge. Smoking alone accounts for half the difference in health outcomes for the most deprived in society.
(BMcC)
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