According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), last year alone, 400,000 people gave up smoking in England, which leaves 6.1 million smokers, or 14.9% of the population. That’s down from a 15.5% rate in 2016 and 19.8% in 2011.
Earlier this month, the PHE’s chief executive Duncan Selbie, urged the National Health Service (NHS) to strive at making Britain effectively smoke-free by 2030, and these figures are an indication that the country could be well on track in achieving this goal.
However, the health body has also pointed out that unfortunately the majority of people attempting to quit are not doing so in the most effective way. Six in 10 smokers trying to quit try to rely solely on willpower or going “cold turkey”. This is the hardest and therefore least effective way to quit, points out the PHE.
The annual Stoptober campaign
The health organization suggests the use of cessation tools such as e-cigarettes, to make the transition from smoking to not smoking a smoother one. To this effect, last Thursday the organization launched its annual Stoptober campaign, which encourages smokers to give up smoking for 28 days in October.
“Britain is a global leader on tobacco control and our robust policies mean smoking rates have fallen to record lows,” said the Minister of Public Health Steve Brine, in a statement announcing the campaign. “But we are not complacent — we know we must do all we can to keep encouraging smokers to quit for good.”
Read Further: CNN
