6000 SMOKERS STUB OUT FAGS

Mar 30 2007 Stirling Observer

ALMOST 6000 people have visited cessation clinics since the smoking ban was introduced a year ago.

And health promotion bosses are delighted to report that 75 per cent of those who attended stayed off the weed after four weeks.

Kate Johnstone, NHS Forth Valley smoking cessation coordinator, said that Forth Valley, in line with the rest of Scotland, coped with a massive demand for smoking cessation services following the anti-smoking laws. But numbers tended to fall last summer as people smoked outside in warm weather.

“Since December, smokers have been steadily coming back for help, with around 40 people a night now trying to kick the habit at some drop-in clinics,” said Kate.

“Many of those who have quit say the new legislation has made it easier, removing the temptations at work and leisure which caused them to relapse on previous occasions.”

In the past 14 months there have been 2198 attendances at the Alloa drop-in clinic, 1606 at Stirling and 2152 at the Camelon clinic in Falkirk.

Other smoking cessation services, including GP practices, have also noticed that more people are coming forward to seek help.

NHS Forth Valley director of public health, Dr Malcolm McWhirter, says huge support for the ban continues in Scotland.

“There must be no turning back or watering down of the legislation.

“I have absolutely no doubt that future reports on the health of the population of Forth Valley will show falls in cancers and heart disease as a result of the courage of the Scottish Parliament in taking this action,” he said.

NHS Forth Valley has already revealed that a target to cut smoking from 33 per cent of the adult population to 29 per cent has been met three years ahead of schedule. Professionals are now working to a new target of 25 per cent by the year 2010.

Almost 57,000 people in Forth Valley still smoke. The aim is to reduce this number by a further 9000 over the next three years.

Among groups receiving encouragement to give up cigarettes are pregnant mums.

If they register as smokers with the maternity department at Stirling Royal Infirmary, they are given details of smoking cessation clinics and nicotine replacement therapy.

The women also get a helping-to-quit CD which relays the health benefits.