Stoptober is back – and this year, we’re inviting smokers across England to join the nation’s biggest mass quit attempt. Since it began, millions of people have successfully quit with the campaign – and you could be next.

Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable illness and death, killing around 75,000 people every year in England. But the good news is that it’s never too late to quit. In fact, if you stop smoking for just 28 days, you’re five times more likely to quit for good.

While many people still try to go ‘cold turkey’, research shows you’re much more likely to succeed with support. That’s why this Stoptober, the NHS is encouraging smokers to explore the free tools and services designed to make quitting easier.

Why quit this October?

🚭 1 in 5 smokers quit during Stoptober – it really works.
💰 The average smoker spends £2,338 a year on tobacco – quitting saves around £200 every month.
❤️ After just 20 minutes, your heart rate returns to normal; within 1 year, your risk of heart disease is halved.
🚭 Quitting reduces your risk of lung cancer by 50% after 10 years.
🧠 Just 6 weeks after quitting, most people feel less anxious and more positive – stopping smoking can even be as effective as antidepressants.
👶 Quitting improves fertility and reduces pregnancy risks.
📊 25 to 34-year-olds are the most likely to smoke, and people in social housing are three times as likely to smoke as homeowners.
🙋 Three-quarters of smokers wish they had never started – and more than half are already thinking about quitting.

Free NHS support to help you quit

This Stoptober, you don’t have to do it alone. The NHS offers a wide range of free, trusted support, including:

• The NHS Quit Smoking app to track your progress and keep you motivated
• A Personal Quit Plan tailored to your needs
• Expert advice and one-to-one support from local stop smoking services
• Encouragement and motivation from the Smokefree Facebook community

You can also find information about medicines, nicotine replacement therapies and vaping as aids to quitting at nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking.

Smoking services for Norfolk residents

There are a range of services available within Norfolk to help you from Smokefree Norfolk. The Smokefree Norfolk team is dedicated to helping people to quit smoking for good.

With their support, people make sustainable change that will help them improve their wellbeing, become healthier and reduce their chances of developing illnesses. Visit the Smokefree Norfolk website to find out more.

Smoking services for Waveney residents

If you live in the Waveney area, Feel Good Suffolk offers a 12-week programme which includes regular sessions with a Stop Smoking Practitioner, Carbon Monoxide monitoring, and access to a variety of treatments. The team will help you find what works best for you, with a range of treatments including Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) or other products or medications such as vaping, lozenges, inhalators, and more, as well as behavioural support. Visit the Feel Good Suffolk website to find out more about their Stop Smoking services.

Make this October the month you quit for good. With NHS support, you’re far more likely to succeed – and start living a healthier, happier, smoke-free life.