As the cost of living continues to rise, many will find it difficult to make ends meet. Smoking is a very expensive addiction and can place a financial burden on people who smoke and their families.
The Quit Your Way teams in NHS Lanarkshire, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde and NHS Lothian have created a campaign which focuses on the money people who smoke could save by quitting, as well as the health benefits.
As part of this campaign, a podcast aimed at referrers was created to discuss the impact of smoking on mental and physical health during the cost of living crisis.
The podcast features; Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive – ASH Scotland, Jo Duffy, Senior Health Promotion Officer, Tackling Poverty – NHS Lanarkshire, Geraldine Lucas, Team Leader – Quit Your Way – NHS GGC and Donnamarie Bell, Mental Health Adviser – Quit Your Way, NHS GGC. Listen to the podcast here.
Shirley Mitchell, senior health improvement manager – Quit Your Way, commented: “Our Quit Your Way service will support all Lanarkshire residents who smoke to quit, even if they have tried to quit with our support before.
“The cost of living crisis is such an important issue, and people struggling might believe smoking helps them to relax. However, that relaxed feeling only lasts a short time before they start to feel anxious, tired and depressed. That can then lead to smoking more – it’s a vicious circle.
“Smoking is not the main reason for poverty, but it does make things much worse for people living with money worries. For example, if someone smokes twenty cigarettes per day, research shows quitting could save them at least *£3000 per year.
“Smoking isn’t a lifestyle choice, the addictive nature of smoking is considered a key cost people that will sustain, even if they are experiencing periods of financial hardship/poverty. Referrers can support their patients and/or people in the community who are ready to quit smoking by referring them directly to Quit Your Way.”
All staff can refer patients who smoke to the Quit Your Way team. Find out more information on our dedicated FirstPort page for referrers, or phone our local helpline on 01698 754 888, which is available Monday to Friday from 9am until 5pm.
Or, for more information about quitting smoking call 0800 84 84 84 or visit the Quit Your Way webpage.
*Savings of over £3000 per year is based on ASH Scotland’s research, ‘Calculating the Cost of Smoking.’
Evidence for the campaign – taken from ASH Scotland’s Poverty Alliance Smoking and Poverty Report
