Quit Support for Swansea Smokers in New GP Scheme

GPs and practice staff across City and Bay Health in Swansea are taking part in a new pilot project offering free breath tests and support for smokers to help them quit.

There are around 20,000 smokers living in the City and Bay Health areas, but the latest figures show less than 3% of these are accessing Wales’ free stop smoking service Help Me Quit every year.

Tobacco control charity ASH Wales has created the new project to help GPs and practice staff to increase the number of would-be quitters getting the right support and nicotine replacement for them.

Smokers who are supported by specialist services, like through their GP or local pharmacy, are four times more likely to stay quit than those who go it alone.

In partnership with pharmaceutical company Pfizer, ASH Wales have provided 27 GP surgeries with ‘smoke’ breath monitors; hand-held devices which take just a matter of seconds to show a patient the current level of carbon monoxide – poisonous smoke – in their body.

Using a colour-coded traffic light system, patients can see the amount of damage they are doing to their bodies, acting as a powerful motivator to think about acting to conquer their habit.

Dr Kirstie Truman, Lead GP for the Bay Health Cluster, said: “Smoking has a devastating effect on the lives of so many of our patients, causing cancer, lung disease and heart problems. Working together to support smokers to stop will help reduce the number of people developing these fatal diseases.

“Allowing patients to see the level of carbon monoxide in their lungs will hopefully prompt them to seek nicotine replacement therapies and stop smoking. The best possible thing for anyone’s lungs is to quit smoking and to stay away from others smoking around them. Quitting smoking isn’t easy but there’s free support and advice available.”

Research shows near 70% of all smokers want to quit but finding information and getting the right advice can be a crucial part of that stop smoking journey.

Wales’ dedicated stop smoking service Help Me Quit has recently expanded the choices offered to smokers with the majority of local pharmacies in the area now offering one-to-one support.

Chief Executive of ASH Wales, Suzanne Cass, said: “It’s a shocking fact that almost half of all long-term smokers will die from a smoking-related disease. Anything we can do to bring down these worryingly high statistics is vital.

“We’re delighted to be working with so many GPs from across City and Bay Health – every waiting room across these areas will now have information prompting smokers to ask about their free CO test. We must give smokers every opportunity, such as a trip the doctor’s, to get advice and support that could help them quit.”

Latest statistics show that if current trends continue and no additional action is taken the national target of 16% of adults smoking by 2020 will not be met. According to recent figures by the Public Health Wales Observatory, the 16% target will instead be reached in 2025.

Smoking is the leading cause of cancer and the single largest preventable cause of illness and death in Wales, causing over 5,300 deaths every year. 19% of the Welsh adult population currently smoke but this rises to 21% for the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg area – equating to around 92,000 smokers.

The Help Me Quit service and website offers tailored advice specific to the needs of would-be quitters. To find out more call 0800 085 2219 or visit helpmequit.wales

If you live in the Swansea Bay or City areas, look out for signs in the waiting room of your GP surgery about how you can get your free CO test today.

ASH Wales Supports Submission to Select Committee Warning on Harms of UK’s On-Screen Smoking Habits

Tobacco control charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Wales is supporting a submission to the UK Government warning that smoking on TV and in films encourages children to take up smoking.

The submission to the Science and Technology Select Committee, sent jointly by ASH England and the UK Centre for Tobacco and Alcohol studies (UKCTAS), includes new YouGov results showing 81% of 11 to 15-year-olds and 88% of 16 to 18-year-olds have seen smoking in films. For TV, the stats were 68% for 11 to 15-year-olds and 77% of 16 to 18-year-olds.

One of the worst offenders for not only showing smoking but also branded packs was the young person’s reality TV favourite, Love Island. The show created an estimated 47 million tobacco-related impressions on children aged under 16.

The submission also includes new figures from Cancer Research UK showing that despite declines in smoking prevalence, many young people are still taking up smoking. Between 2014 and 2016 around 127,000 children a year started smoking for the first time in England, equivalent to 17 classrooms of secondary school children a day. In Wales this figure stands at 30 children a day. Research shows that over 60% of those who try smoking go on to become regular smokers.

Suzanne Cass, Chief Executive of ASH Wales, said: “A classroom full of children take up smoking every day here in Wales. Young people are the tobacco industry’s key target since they are the only ones who can replace their lifelong, but dying, customers. Most adult smokers started the habit as a teen, at an age when they were most impressionable.

“Smoking adverts have been banned for many years on TV and at cinemas. It is hard not to question why we are seeing such a rapid rise in the obvious placement of tobacco products, especially among young person-specific programmes.”

The percentage of Oscar-nominated films containing smoking rose dramatically in 2018 – up to 86% from 60% four years ago. The Churchill biopic ‘Darkest Hour’ (rated PG, meaning general viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children) had the highest smoking prevalence of any film.

Wales’ Only Youth Stop Smoking Project Shuts Down

Wales’ only dedicated stop smoking service for young people is coming to an end today (Thursday 29th March) after five years supporting thousands of teenagers.

ASH Wales’ “The Filter” project, which tackles smoking among teenagers in hard to reach areas where prevalence is highest, will cease due to a lack of funding.

The project was established in 2013 with Big Lottery Funding and due to its success was subsequently funded by Welsh Government for a further 2 years.

In the past five years smoking rates among 15 to 16-year-olds in Wales has fallen from 13.5% down to 8.5%, however a classroom of children still take up smoking every day in Wales.

In total The Filter project has engaged with 12,500 young people at 250 events and delivered hundreds of out-of-school workshops. In addition, 800 youth work professionals have been trained to educate others about the deadly habit.

The Filter’s most popular workshop, Commit to Quit, saw young people taking on a 6-week challenge to either reduce the amount they smoked or quit altogether. Last year alone the team worked in more than 40 youth provisions and helped 120 teenagers to quit smoking.

Overall, the Commit to Quit team worked with more than 650 young smokers from across Wales with 66% of those who set a quit date stopping smoking completely – this compares with a 42% quit rate within adult services.

Teenager Kathleen Davies, who took part in Commit to Quit programme when she was 17, had started smoking when she was just 11 years old. She said: “My grandad died from throat cancer after smoking and my dad is very sick after smoking for 40 years. I promised my dad I would give up and that was it.”

Kathleen’s carbon monoxide (smoke) levels were monitored weekly to check her progress. In week one she blew 29 on the monitor – an incredible high reading and that of a heavy smoker. But by week three Kathleen was scoring a ‘2’ which is equivalent to a non-smoker.

Cheyane, aged 15 from Merthyr, was quick to thank The Filter team for the part they played on helping her to quit: “I started smoking when I was 13, my friends were all doing it and I sort of got peer pressured into it. I quit smoking using The Filter and it wasn’t difficult to quit with their help – they were very supportive… they pushed me and gave me the support I needed. I started the CO on 15 and went down to a 4!”

The national target to reduce adult smoking to 16% of the population by 2020 is unlikely to be achieved if no additional action is taken and current trends persist.

According to the latest figures from the Public Health Wales Observatory, the 16% target will instead be reached in 2025.

Suzanne Cass, Chief Executive of ASH Wales, said: “as Wales’ only dedicated service supporting young people to quit smoking we are saddened to see this life-changing project cease. Our team have been working in those areas where help is needed most.

“We must not forget smoking rates among the ‘least deprived’ adults in Wales stands at 9% versus 28% among the ‘most deprived’ – representing a 19% difference. The young people we have been working with are usually from the ‘less well off’ areas. These young people must not be left behind there must be tailored interventions to steer them away from tobacco.”

“The key to the success of this programme has been the informal approach, engaging young people in their regular meeting places such as youth clubs and training centres.”

The Filter’s social media accounts will no longer be active however its website thefilterwales.org will remain, hosting information on a variety of smoking-related topics such as second-hand smoke and smoking around pets.

The NHS offers a free stop smoking service in Wales called Help Me Quit. Smokers are four times more likely to stay smokefree with support than if they go it alone. To get free, local, and tailored advice visit www.helpmequit.wales, text ‘HMQ’ to 80818 or phone 08000 852 219.

ASH Wales’ Response: Cancer Research UK Research Reveals 4 in 10 Cancers Could be Preventable with Lifestyle Changes

New research released today by Cancer Research UK (CRUK) shows that over 7,000 cancer cases per year in Wales are preventable, amounting to 140 per week.

Smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, weight and sunbed usage are the main causes of cancers which would otherwise be avoided – equating to almost four in 10 diagnoses, says CRUK.

15% of these avoidable cases were due to smoking, the highest percentage out of any of the lifestyle choices.

Suzanne Cass, Chief Executive of tobacco control charity ASH Wales, said: “It’s a shocking statistic that 38% of every cancer diagnosis in Wales is due to a lifestyle activity, such as smoking. Cancer Research UK’s stats show we still have a long way to go here in Wales to stop more people from becoming a statistic themselves. To do this we need strong policies, such as smokefree spaces for everyone to enjoy, and national campaigns to highlight the harms of tobacco.

“We know smoking kills almost half of its long-term users, however the majority of smokers do want to quit this killer habit. The support is out there for anyone wanting to stop smoking – the NHS in Wales offers a free stop smoking service called Help Me Quit, who are just one text or call away.”

To get free, local, and tailored advice visit www.helpmequit.wales, text ‘HMQ’ to 80818 or phone 08000 852 219.

Take the Challenge and Be a Quitter this No Smoking Day

Today (Wednesday 14th March) marks the 35th national No Smoking Day, challenging smokers to be a quitter for 24 hours.

The annual day, which sees around 700,000 attempted quits across the UK, encourages smokers to give no smoking a go for one day in the hope they will eventually feel ready to quit for good.

Currently in Wales, 19% of adults and 9% of 15/16-year olds smoke regularly. A recent survey showed that 64% of all smokers would like to give up, 44% have tried and 7% of people currently use an e-cigarette.

The unknown of what to expect when stopping smoking often puts off would-be quitters but that’s where No Smoking Day comes in, giving smokers an insight into what to expect when they finally go smokefree. Picking a specific date to quit, such as No Smoking Day, also means quitters are more likely to stay smokefree as they’re mentally ready for the challenge.

Tobacco control campaign group ASH Wales Cymru have created a timeline looking at what happens to the body during the 24 hours of No Smoking Day.

  • 20 minutes: After just 20 minutes of that last cigarette the body begins to recover. Nicotine, the addictive bit of smoking, is a stimulant which gives the body that ‘hit’, but this only lasts for a matter of minutes. Not long after the last puff of smoke, heart rate and blood pressure return to normal following this high.
  • 8 hours: This is the testing time when most quitters reach for another cigarette. The effects of withdrawal are strong as nicotine leaves the bloodstream and cravings start to increase. A top tip is to find something to keep the mind and hands distracted – fiddle with a pen and pick up a crossword!
  • 12 hours: Oxygen levels return to normal as poisonous smoke leaves the blood and body. It is this smoke which is the killer part of smoking, causing 1 in 2 long-term smokers to die from the addictive habit.
  • 24 hours: Anxiety and ‘stress’ levels peak. The feeling of stress associated with quitting smoking isn’t really stress – it’s a sign of withdrawal. It’s untrue that smoking de-stresses – it just feeds a craving. In fact, research shows non- and ex-smokers

Quitting smoking has enormous long-term benefits too as making it 10 years smokefree will see an ex-smoker’s risk of lung cancer, one of the most likely harms to a smoker’s life, become half that of a smoker. It’s great news for the heart as well; after 10 years smokefree the chance of a heart attack becomes the same as a non-smoker.

ASH Wales’ Chief Executive, Suzanne Cass, said: “No Smoking Day is a fantastic opportunity for smokers to give quitting a try and hopefully spur them on to say goodbye to tobacco for good. With thousands of others taking part of the day, would-be quitters can be reassured they’re not alone and there’s lots of great support out there, like with Help Me Quit, to keep them motivated throughout the day.

“Over 5,000 people die every single year in Wales from preventable illnesses caused by smoking. Every event like No Smoking Day or Stoptober which helps tackle this shocking statistic are crucially important and must be supported across Wales.”

The NHS offers a free stop smoking service in Wales called Help Me Quit. Smokers are four times more likely to stay smokefree with support than if they go it alone. To get free, local, and tailored advice visit www.helpmequit.wales, text ‘HMQ’ to 80818 or phone 08000 852 219.

Sniffer dogs help crack down on illegal tobacco in Wales

Specialist tobacco detection dogs will take to the streets of Cardiff on Friday (4th March) to encourage the public to get involved in the fight against illegal tobacco in Wales.

The illegal tobacco market makes up 15% of all tobacco sales in Wales, the highest in the UK. These cheap products make it easier for children to start smoking, as it is sold at pocket money prices by criminals who don’t care about age-restriction laws.

As part of No Smoking Day activities, ASH Wales Cymru will be joined by tobacco sniffer dogs, Scamp, Phoebe and Yoyo, at the Illegal Tobacco Mobile Unit at junction of Queen Street and Churchill Way (outside the entrance to the Capitol Centre).

The dogs, which are all ex-rescue dogs, have helped officers sniff out thousands of pounds worth of illegal tobacco, which is often hidden behind fake walls or in other unusual, concealed locations.

ASH Wales Cymru research has shown that information about where illegal tobacco is being sold often comes via reports from the community. The Illegal Tobacco Unit aims to help educate the public about what illegal tobacco looks like, what the dangers are and encourages them to keep their eyes open and report illegal tobacco being sold in their neighbourhood.

All tobacco is harmful, but illegal tobacco is a further risk to our children and communities, because it is sold so cheaply by criminals who are not interested in asking for proof of age.

We know from our research that 15% of the tobacco market in Wales is illegal compared with the UK average of 9%.

We’re not just talking about shops, younger people are more likely to visit “fag houses” to buy cigarettes or hand-rolling tobacco. This can mean they regularly come into contact with adults who might also be selling unlicensed alcohol, drugs or who might take the opportunity to exploit the relationship that develops.

We know that most adult smokers started when they were underage. The availability of cheap illegal tobacco gives children the opportunity to start a long-term and potentially deadly habit. If you know where it is being sold, please report it today”

Suzanne Cass, Chief Executive of ASH Wales Cymru

The sale of illegal tobacco is a serious criminal offence that can result in very large fines and imprisonment. Anyone wishing to report the selling of illegal tobacco can report anonymously by calling the Illegal Tobacco Hotline on 0300 999 0000 or by contacting their local Trading Standards Department.