Almost 50 people in Wiltshire take first step to quitting smoking
Wiltshire's Public Health team is reiterating its support for others wanting to quit
Last updated 20th Jan 2025
A team of specialists have reiterated their support for people in Wiltshire who want to quit smoking.
So far in 2025, 47 people have joined the Council's Smokefree programme, as the Council aims to improve the county's health, which includes a free app.
Director of Public Health for Wiltshire, Kate Blackburn, said they want to make sure people have all the tools available to them to break their addiction.
She said: "Sometimes when people try and quit and it doesn't work, they may feel that you know well. It hasn't worked for me. Therefore, I'm always going to be a smoker, but actually it just means you didn't get the right combination and support."
Professor Blackburn is encouraging anyone who wants to quit to use the Stop Smoking Service as it triples a person's chances of successfully quitting.
She said she understands how tough stopping can be.
"Smoking is an addiction," she said, adding: "It's not a choice once you are addicted to smoking, you are addicted to smoking."
Professor Blackburn told us that the specialist team are 'non-judgemental' and will work with clients to find the right tools that will give people the lifestyle they want.
She said: “Stopping smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health, wealth and happiness and we are delighted that so many people have responded to our New Year campaign to encourage people in Wiltshire to make a quit attempt.
“The SmokeFree app gives you access to stop smoking advisors 24/7 so when people have a craving, they can get the support they need to stay on track.
“We also have specialist Health Coaches who run a 12-week programme of stop smoking support and meet with people on a weekly basis, either face-to-face or online. They can provide a range of stop smoking aids including, Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), vaping and stop smoking medication.”