13th October 2005
Greenock
and Inverclyde’s Smokers Urged to “Quit with Us”
MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan
McNeil, has issued a call to local smokers
to stub out their deadly habit and has highlighted the local services which are
available to support anyone who needs help to quit for good.
Mr
McNeil, who is also a member of Holyrood’s Health Committee, made the call
following the launch of the Scottish Executive’s ‘Quit with Us’ campaign,
which encourages people across Scotland to stop smoking.
The
campaign features personal testimonies of ex-smokers who have given up – often
having tried and failed before finally cracking it with the help of local stop
smoking services.
NHS
Argyll and Clyde was allocated £526,000 by the Scottish Executive to
provide local smoking cessations services.
Backing
the campaign, Mr McNeil said, “The Executive is, of course, making all public
places smoke free from next April. But
this will not deliver the promised health benefits if it only changes where
people smoke, rather than reducing the number of people who smoke.
“I
am also campaigning to raise the minimum age at which you can buy tobacco from
16 to 18. This will make it much
harder for children and young people to make the worst mistake of their lives
and start smoking in the first place.
“But
we can’t ignore those who have already become addicted and want to give up.
So it is important that, when someone makes the right decision to kick
the habit, they have the support they need to do it.”
Recent
figures show that 70% of Scots don't smoke and, of those who do, 70% expressed a
desire to give up.
Mr
McNeil continued, “The ‘Quit with Us’ campaign will run until March next
year and will highlight that there are services in Greenock and Inverclyde which
can help smokers to give up.
“I
would urge anyone who is thinking about quitting to call the Smokeline free on
0800 84 84 84. Lines are open from
noon to midnight.”
Launching
the Scottish Executive’s ‘Quit with Us’ campaign earlier this week, Health
Minister, Andy Kerr, said, “We don't
want to get at smokers, we want to help smokers. This
new campaign will help encourage more Scots to try and give up smoking.”
The
Scottish Executive has pledged £7 million to NHS Boards across Scotland for
smoking cessation services in 2005-06.
ENDS
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