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Make a resolution you can keep
A wide range of support is available to help more Hull people quit their nicotine habit
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If you make a New Year's resolution this festive period to quit smoking, the chances are you will stick to your aim through 2010 and beyond and give up cigarettes for good.
That's because NHS Hull provides a wide range of stop smoking services locally, and more and more people are using them.
Cigarette smoke contains a toxic mixture of 4,000 chemicals and of these 60 are known to cause cancer.
But people who smoke 'counterfeit cigarettes' may be exposing themselves to even more toxic ingredients, as these are smuggled into the UK and do not face the same strict quality controls that registered and licensed cigarette brands have to meet.
The national trade in illicit tobacco, in which counterfeit cigarettes are sold and packaged under the branding of licensed tobacco brands, is worth around £10bn a year.
"Some of the forgeries are almost perfect – they look just like the real thing, and any smoker could easily be fooled into buying them," says John Sandford, principal trading standards officer at Hull City Council.
"We work very hard to regularly inspect retail outlets in Hull where cigarettes are sold, such as shops and off licences, to check if any illicit cigarettes are being offered to customers.
Any illegal products we find are seized and immediately removed from sale and we may also prosecute the seller.
"Furthermore, there is also concern at the lack of conscience shown by people dealing in counterfeit goods and the serious risk of the cigarettes being sold to children.
"If parents suspect that illicit cigarettes are being sold in their area I would urge them to report it by phoning HM Revenue and Customs on 0800 59 5000."
Sources of help
The cigarette box on the right is geniune but the centre and left boxes are counterfeit |
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The Hull and East Riding NHS Stop Smoking Service offers a range of free and convenient local services to suit people who are ready to quit including:
- one-to-one support, such as walk-in centres which require no appointment and are local and convenient for busy lives
- stopping in a group – a stop smoking group allows people to share tips and ideas on dealing with cravings
- telephone and online help – by phoning 0800 915 5959 people can access help in the comfort of their own home and at a time to suit them
- free nicotine replacement therapy, which includes products like patches and gum and can help double the chance of quitting smoking
- an online quit service from the Hull and East Riding Stop Smoking website www.readytostopsmoking.co.uk which lets people undertake a stop smoking programme from the convenience of their own homes
Mike's story
After smoking more than 20 roll ups a day for 42 years, a Hull man successfully quit the habit with the help of the Hull and East Riding Stop Smoking Service.
Mike (59) made the decision to quit after seeing a stop smoking mobile stand outside St Stephen's shopping centre.
This first contact led to Mike joining a weekly stop smoking support group at Victoria House and he was also given a free inhaler and nicotine patches to help him quit.
"The group really worked for me, we all shared our experiences and encouraged one another to keep going and stop smoking for good," says Mike.
"I found it easier than I thought it would be to stop smoking.
The first three or four days felt rough but after that I was fine.
However, I still keep the phone number for the stop smoking service with me in case I'm ever tempted."
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Working in partnership |
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NHS Hull tel.
(01482) 344700 |
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