In conversations around addiction, smoking is often the forgotten habit we don’t discuss. Whether this be because it is more widely viewed as “socially acceptable” or the fact that we see people smoking cigarettes publicly on a daily basis which contributes to normalisation and destigmatisation.
It could be that the harmful and destructive effects of smoking are not initially as visible upon first glance, but it is important to remember that nearly 80,000 people died in the UK last year from smoking related illnesses.
Lung cancer is the disease which will be most commonly associated with smoking being that it is the cause of 1 in 4 UK cancer deaths; but the habit is also a significant contributory factor in many cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) and cardiovascular disease.
What is Stoptober?
Stoptober is an annual UK based campaign aiming to encourage smokers to challenge themselves to stop smoking for one month. The campaign also aims to raise awareness around the health risks associated with smoking and the benefits of quitting.
What are the benefits to you?
From speaking to many people who have taken the plunge and been able to successfully overcome a smoking addiction, we can tell you that an improved sense of taste & smell is something noticed by many surprisingly quickly. There are also a number of less visible benefits to your health:
· Easier and less restricted breathing
· More day-to-day energy
· Lowered risk of lung cancer, stroke, heart disease & lung disease
· Reduced risk of diabetes, bone disease, eye disease & dementia
· Visibly brighter skin
How to take part…
We might already be a few days in to October but we still have 28 days left to take part in the challenge. Coincidentally those who are able to stop smoking for 28 days are said to be 5 times more likely to quite for good.
The hard working people at the NHS who are running the Stoptober challenge have put together a plethora of great resources for you to use to take part. From hints & tips, to mobile apps, from patches to face to face consultations there’s helpful aids to suit everybody. You can find out what’s available and what’s for you here
Go sober this October
Off the back of the great success of the Stoptober campaign, Macmillan Cancer Support have begun their own initiative "Go Sober" in October, raising money to support those living with Cancer through a sponsored month of sobriety from alcohol.
Going sober for a month can be a great way to get a clearer picture of your relationship with alcohol, how important is it in your life? With so much information available to us online now, we could find the stories of many people who have started with a month off and not looked back, deciding to put down the bottle for good.
On the other ,hand it can highlight a problematic relationship with alcohol. If you notice that you’re struggling to get through the day, week or month without turning back to alcohol, you might decide that some additional support would be useful. If that is the case then you’ll be one of many, including a number of our ROAR volunteers.
If you would like an informal chat or to be pointed in the direction of the best support for you, reach out to us at one of our meet & greet sessions or send us a message here
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