Stoptober is back for 2025, and Westmorland and Furness Council is offering more support than ever to help people quit smoking for good this October and into the future.
Quitting smoking helps you breathe easier, feel better, save money, and live longer. If you live in Westmorland and Furness, there is now a range of free stop smoking support available, whether you have tried to quit before, or are thinking about it for the first time.
The council’s dedicated Stop Smoking service offers expert advice and personalised care to help individuals quit smoking and achieve lasting health improvements. The team provides 12 weeks of free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) – including patches, lozenges and vapes.
Alternatively, individuals can go direct to local participating pharmacies for a personalised quit plan and up to 12 weeks of free NRT.
For those seeking a non-nicotine approach, Westmorland and Furness Council also provides free access to the highly effective Allen Carr’s Easyway online programme. Allen Carr’s Easyway books are also available at all Westmorland and Furness libraries, with eBook and eAudio versions available through the library service’s Borrowbox app.
Over five million adults in England still smoke. Smoking causes 75,000 deaths a year, making it the biggest cause of preventable illness and death.
Westmorland and Furness Council wants to achieve ‘smoke-free’ status by 2030, with less than 5% of our residents smoking. This is why supporting people to become successful quitters, as well as putting in measures to prevent people from taking up the habit is a priority.
Katrina Stephens, Director of Public Health at Westmorland and Furness Council, said:
“Stopping smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health, and smokers can double their chances of quitting for good by combining stop smoking aids with help to change behaviour and habits.
“Stoptober is a great way of starting the journey and our Stop Smoking team are ready to help you this Stoptober and throughout the year with personalised advice and support.
“The good news is, if you quit smoking for 28 days, you’re five times more likely to quit for good. It is never too late to stop, and our range of support is there for people no matter how many times they have tried to quit in the past.
Cllr Patricia Bell, Cabinet member for Adults, Health and Care, said:
“I’m delighted for us to support Stoptober with our expanded Stop Smoking support services.
“Their work will not only help many more residents quit smoking, but also play a vital role in reducing health inequalities in Westmorland and Furness, improving overall community health, and easing the strain on our NHS.”
To find out more about the support available and to contact the Westmorland and Furness Stop Smoking support service go to www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/smoke-free.