Smoking can and does kill.
If you are interested in stopping smoking perhaps these blunt statistics might give you an idea of the scale o the problem. You are not alone in your smoking habit.
The Department of Health has published statistics relating to smoking cessation services for 2015/16.
The information released provides information on people reporting to smoking cessation services throughout the North of Ireland during the year 2015/16.
Key Findings
Within the North of Ireland during 2015/16:
* A total of 21,285 people set a quit date through the smoking cessation services. This is a decrease of 494 (2%) on the same period last year.
* Of those setting a quit date, 1% were under 18 years of age, 33% were aged 18-34, 22% were aged 35-44, 28% were aged 45-59, and 15% were aged 60 and over.
* Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) was the most popular therapeutic intervention, with 74% of those who set a quit date having used this therapy.
* At the four week follow-up, 12,475 reported that they had successfully quit, three-fifths (59%) of those setting a quit date.
* The four-week success rate was 61% for males and 57% for females. Success at four weeks increased with age, from 41% for those aged 11 to 17, to 65% for those aged 60 and over.
* At the four-week follow-up, a quarter of clients reported that they had not successfully quit. Of these, 59% had reduced their smoking intake and a further 33% indicated that they intend to rejoin the smoking cessation programme.
* Of the 289 young people (aged 11 to 17) who set a quit date, 41% reported to have successfully quit at the four-week follow-up, 40% indicated that they were still smoking, and 19% could not be contacted for the follow-up.
* Of the 6,824 adults (aged 18 and above) in the 20% most deprived areas, three-fifths (58%) reported they had successfully quit at the four-week follow-up.
* Of the 1,270 women who were recorded as being pregnant, 57% reported to have successfully quit at the four-week follow-up, 28% had not quit, and 14% were not able to be contacted.
This publication is available online at:
www.health-ni.gov.uk/articles/tobacco-statistics
Quit now, before it is too late!
