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Surge in smokers trying to quit sees increased success rates in 2020

This 'Stoptober', smokers in England are being encouraged to put their lungs first, strengthen their immune system and breathe easier ahead of flu season by joining more than two million smokers who have made a quit attempt since 2012 with the annual campaign.

Smoking prevalence among adults in England is at a record low of 13.9 per cent. New data from the UCL Smoking Toolkit Study show that in England, in 2020, there has been an increase of nearly a quarter (22%) in quit attempts compared with 2019 and an increase of almost two-thirds in the quitting success rate from 14 per cent to 23 per cent, the highest since at least 2007.

Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) has calculated that more than a million people in the UK stopped smoking during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Prof Jamie Brown, Director of the UCL Tobacco and Alcohol Research Group and co-author of a living rapid evidence review on smoking and COVID-19, said: “Evidence shows that many more smokers are trying to quit in 2020 and the highest numbers are succeeding since at least 2007."

“While the evidence on COVID-19 outcomes for smokers is still developing and remains uncertain, what is clear is that stopping smoking brings rapid improvements in respiratory and cardiovascular health.”

Stoptober provides the information and support people need to quit smoking for 28 days, based on research that if a smoker can make it to 28 days smoke-free, they are five times more likely to quit for good.

This year, Stoptober is offering a range of free support tools for those looking to quit, including digital services that are easily accessible for those looking for online support. These tools include the Stoptober app, Facebook messenger bot and online communities, SMS and daily emails. There is also a Personal Quit Plan and access to local stopping smoking services.


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