Want to stop smoking? Join a local free stop smoking group

• no lectures, just friendly support
• run by professionals
• six week programme
• evening and day groups
• NRT and Zyban advice
• high sucess rate

To book a place for more information phone 0845 602 3608

Useful contacts

NHS smoking helpline 0800 169 0 169

Advice, information and support to stop smoking

The facts on smoking

Smoking is the single greatest cause of preventable illness and early death.

It accounts for a third of all cancer (over 80% of lung cancer deaths are a direct result of smoking) and a seventh of all cardiovascular disease (such as angina, heart attacks and strokes).

The national target is to reduce smoking prevalence to 21% or lower by 2010, which depends on fewer people taking up smoking and large numbers quitting. On average ex smokers take about five attempts to quit for good (Department of Health 2004).

Research carried out by NOP World Health on behalf of Smoke Free Surrey Alliance found :-

• 23% of people smoked in Surrey with a higher prevalence among those aged 16-24 (36%).  
• Respondents from lower socio-economic groups were more likely to smoke.
• 74% of smokers in Surrey wanted to quit. (NOP 2005)

Secondhand smoke

The Scientific committee on Tobacco and Health (SCOTH) 2004 report on second hand smoke states `it is evident that no infant, child or adult should be exposed to second hand smoke….second hand smoke represents a substantial public health hazard’.  

The Government recommended that local alliances should be formed to achieve the targets launched the White Paper `smoking kills’ in 1998. It identified smoking as a major public health problem and proposed a comprehensive strategy to tackle the crisis.

It formulated a six strand approach:

1. helping smokers give up
2. second hand smoke
3. education and Media
4. reducing tobacco promotion
5. labelling and regulation
6. taxation and smuggling

In the autumn of 2004 the Government published the White Paper `choosing health’, which outlines ways to tackle the health inequalities caused by smoking and includes plans to introduce smoke free public places in a staged approach until 2008, although consultation is still underway regarding this legislation.

The smoke free Surrey alliance

The smoke free Surrey alliance was set up in Summer 2004.  The main alliance campaign aim is to work towards smoke free workplaces in Surrey by:-

• raising awareness about the harm caused by second hand smoke
• undertaking and audit of smoke free provision and policies across the county
• increasing the support for the smoke free Surrey campaign
• Increasing smoke free provision in Surrey

NOP world health research on behalf of the Surrey alliance found that found that in Surrey:-

• eight out of ten people were bothered “at least a little” by second hand smoke and gave health concerns as the main reason.
• eight out of ten people believe that second hand smoke negatively affects their long term health.  
• 86% agree that both local and national policy makers should protect the public from passive smoking by placing restrictions in public places and workplaces.

In August 2005 Spelthorne Borough Council introduced a new smoke free policy throughout their buildings, as part of their commitment to the work of the Alliance.

Further information regarding the alliance is available from Lisa Stonehouse, Health Promotion Officer, on 01784 446431