Give up smoking this Stoptober

This year's 'Stoptober' campaign is the biggest yet, with a web campaign and eye-catching advertising, outdoor events and promotions across the borough aimed at helping residents quit. 

Last year, 2,126 Islington residents were helped to quit - that's half of all those who used Smokefree Islington, Whittington Health’s stop smoking service. 

Smokefree Islington offers a range of ways to quit including personalised support by specialist stop smoking advisors. This is available in pharmacies, GPs surgeries, the Whittington Hospital and community drop-in clinics at Archway Library and Finsbury Health Centre. 

Cllr Janet Burgess, Islington Council's executive member for health and wellbeing, said: 

"Islington suffers from chronic health inequality and much of this is as a result of smoking. 

"We have more smokers than on average, and more cancer, heart and lung disease. 

"Smoking is the biggest cause of early death and we are taking that threat very seriously. 

"Statistics show if you can give up for a month you are four times as likely to be able to give up completely. 

"So we are throwing our weight behind the Stoptober campaign to help residents kick the habit for good." 

Dr Myra Stern, consultant in respiratory medicine at Whittington Health, said: 

"Quitting smoking is the single biggest thing you can do to improve your health. 

"There are more than 40,000 smokers in Islington and we would like as many as possible to take on the Stoptober attempt. 

"Quitting smoking is tough, but Whittington Health’s Smokefree Islington service is able to provide personalised support and advice to anyone considering stopping smoking." 

In Islington, 21% of adults smoke - higher than the national average - and smoking is more prevalent in socially deprived areas. 

At a Stoptober event at Exmouth Market, EC1, public sector worker Wilf, 28, said: 

"Stoptober is a cracking idea." 

"Most smokers want to quit but need a bit of a push – Stoptober provides this and there’s a real sense of solidarity around those taking part. 

"I was roped in to it by a colleague but now see it as a great opportunity. 

"I’ve been a smoker for 12 years and I’m hoping Stoptober can be the start of my smoke-free life." 

Local companies, Islington schools and children's centres, GPs and mental health services are all being invited to take part in Stoptober