World Smokefree Day - Never been cheaper to stop smoking

The focus for World Smokefree Day 2010 is all about giving quitting smoking a go - and friends and family supporting those who want to quit, for adults to not smoke around young people and making the family car Smokefree is a great start.

With the recent tobacco tax increases and as World Smokefree Day approaches, Northland DHB is reminding smokers: ‘It's never been cheaper to quit smoking!'

Northland DHB's Smokefree Coordinator, Bridget Rowse is urging smokers to consider quitting because addiction-busting nicotine replacement products are heavily subsidised by the government, making them far cheaper than cigarettes.

"It's never been cheaper to quit," says Bridget. "At $3 for a month's supply, the patches, gum and lozenges are among the cheapest in the world. They'll take the edge off your cravings and make you more likely to stay quit - you'll double your chances - for about quarter the cost of a packet of smokes!"

Bridget adds: "The cost of smoking is increasing and will continue to increase, but the cost of quitting is going down. So if you quit smoking now, you will save yourself a lot of money, and you might just be saving your life as one in two smokers will die as a result of their smoking"

Low-cost patches, gum and lozenges are available through your local health provider or through the Quitline. The products are safe, and contain only a minimal amount of nicotine, and come packaged without any of the 4,000 chemicals (many of which are harmful) found in a cigarette.

"All you need to do is call your local health provider; Aukati Kai Paipa quit coach or the Quitline. They'll send you a Quitcard to take to the chemist, and they'll also chat with you about your smoking, so you really understand your addiction - and how to beat it" says Bridget.

Northland is also fortunate to have four Aukati Kai Paipa quit coach providers in Northland, who offer by Maori for Maori kanohi kit e kanohi quit smoking support:

• Whangarei - Ngati Hine Health Trust, Walton Street, Whangarei, phone 0800 942 628 or 09 430 1230.
• Mid North - Ngati Hine Health Trust, 2-4 Rayner Street, Kawakawa, phone 0800 737 573 or 09 404 1663.
• Hokianga - Hauora Hokianga, Parnell Street, Rawene, phone 09 405 7709
• Far North - Te Hauora O Te Hiku O Te Ika, 49 Redan Road, Kaitaia, phone 0800 808 4024 or 09 4024.

To get help to stop smoking, talk to your local health provider, Aukati Kai Paipa quit coach or call Quitline on 0800 778 778, or http://www.quit.org.nz/. If you'd like to get quitting support by text, sign up with the Txt2Quit service by texting quit to 3111 (it's free).

-Ends-

For further information contact:
Bridget Rowse, Smokefree Coordinator
Phone (09) 430 4101 ext 7908
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Paula Martin, Communications Officer
Northland District Health Board 
Phone (09) 430 4101 ext 3321
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