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Ban helps more smokers quit habit Ban helps more smokers quit habit
(30 minutes later)
More smokers in Wales are getting help to try to kick the habit than ever before according to Stop Smoking Wales. More smoker in Wales are getting help to try to stop since the ban on lighting up in public places.
The assembly government funded service, said there was a 20% rise in people wanting to give up in response to the smoking ban introduced in April. Stop Smoking Wales, an assembly government-funded service, said there had been a 20% rise in people wanting to quit after the ban began in April.
But Dr Tony Jewell, Wales' chief medical officer, said thousands more could still make use of the service. But Tony Jewell, Wales' chief medical officer, said thousands more could still make use of the service.
He urged smokers to make giving up their top resolution in 2008 after the success enjoyed by others this year.He urged smokers to make giving up their top resolution in 2008 after the success enjoyed by others this year.
The ban on smoking in public places was enforced in Wales on 2 April and if people ignore it they are subjected to on-the-spot fines. The ban on smoking in public places was enforced in Wales on 2 April, leading to on-the-spot fines for those who ignore it.
SMOKING IN WALES Some 6,000 people die from smoking each yearIt may account for eight in 10 deaths from lung cancer, three in four from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and one in five from heart diseaseOn average, smokers die about 10 years younger25% of adults smoke - 27% of men and 24% of women37% of mothers smoke at some stage in their pregnancy or the year before28% of 15-year-old girls and 19% of 12-year-olds regularly smoke37% of households with children contain at least one adult who smokes dailyBlaenau Gwent has the highest adult smoking rate (32%); Monmouthshire the lowest (23%)17% in managerial and professional households smoke, 32% in manual occupations, and 48% in the never-worked and long-term unemployed groupTreating smoking costs the NHS across the UK £1.5bn a yearSource: Welsh Assembly Government
The figures show more than 25,000 smokers have contacted Stop Smoking Wales since 2004.The figures show more than 25,000 smokers have contacted Stop Smoking Wales since 2004.
10 facts about smoking in Wales Around 6,000 people die from smoking each yearSmoking is thought to account for 8 to 10 deaths from lung cancer, 3 in 4 deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and one in 5 death from heart diseaseOn average, smokers die about 10 years younger than non-smokers25% of adults smoke - 27% of men and 24% of women37% of mothers smoke at some stage in their pregnancy or the year before it28% of 15-year-old girls and 19% of 12-year-olds regularly smoke37% of households with children contain at least one adult who smokes dailyBlaenau Gwent has the highest smokers rate at 32% of adults, while Monmouthshire has the lowest (23%)17% in managerial and professional households smoke, 32% in the manual occupation group, and 48% in the never-worked and long-term unemployed groupTreating smoking costs the NHS across the UK £1.5BN A YEARInformation from Welsh Assembly Government About 70% of smokers say they want to quit, and some half of those who go through the Stop Smoking Wales programme, offered by the National Public Health Service, succeeded in giving up for good.
Around 70% of smokers want to quit, and around half of those who go through the Stop Smoking Wales programme, offered by the National Public Health Service, succeeded in giving up the habit for good.
Dr Jewell said: "While the number of adult smokers is falling, there are still 6,000 premature deaths each year due to smoking.Dr Jewell said: "While the number of adult smokers is falling, there are still 6,000 premature deaths each year due to smoking.
"A quarter of adults in Wales still smoke - more than the UK average - and children are taking up the habit around the age of 12.""A quarter of adults in Wales still smoke - more than the UK average - and children are taking up the habit around the age of 12."
The chief medical officer said there is no disputing the "devastating effects" of smoking on the individual or their family and friends.The chief medical officer said there is no disputing the "devastating effects" of smoking on the individual or their family and friends.
Dr Jewell added: ¿In particular, I'd urge those who expose children to second-hand smoke to give up. Dr Jewell added: "In particular, I'd urge those who expose children to second-hand smoke to give up.
"More mothers-to-be smoke in Wales than in any other part of the UK, and over a third of households with children still contain a smoker.""More mothers-to-be smoke in Wales than in any other part of the UK, and over a third of households with children still contain a smoker."
The smoking ban in public places in Wales was introduced in AprilThe smoking ban in public places in Wales was introduced in April
He said smoking prevalence in Wales has fallen from 35% in 1978 to 25% in 2007 but added he believed the figure could be even lower. He said smoking prevalence in Wales had fallen from 35% in 1978 to 25% in 2007 but believed the figure could be even lower.
"We should be aiming for an intermediate goal of 17% prevalence as has already been achieved in Sweden and California." "We should be aiming for an intermediate goal of 17% prevalence, as has already been achieved in Sweden and California."
Stop Smoking Wales provides a free support programme offering local weekly meetings, delivered in GP practices, health centres, schools, workplaces, libraries and leisure centres.Stop Smoking Wales provides a free support programme offering local weekly meetings, delivered in GP practices, health centres, schools, workplaces, libraries and leisure centres.
Julia James, Stop Smoking Wales National Co-ordinator, said: "Smokers are four times more likely to stop smoking for good with help from out services than they are if they go it alone." Julia James of Stop Smoking Wales said: "Smokers are four times more likely to stop smoking for good with help from out services than they are if they go it alone."