Smoking claims 1,3,00 lives in Derbyshire each year

Campaigners are advising smokers to stub out the habit for the sake of their health. Photo by Pixabay.

Smokers are being urged to kick a habit which claims 1,300 lives in Derbyshire every year.

A further 1,400 children in the county take up smoking every year.

Under the banner of Today is the Day, campaign group Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) is calling for smokers to protect themselves from smoking related diseases and increased risk of severe illness from Covid-19.

The campaign is supported by Derbyshire County Council. Coun Carol Hart, cabinet member for health, said: “Smoking is one of the biggest causes of preventable illness and early death in Derbyshire.

“We are working hard to encourage people to give quitting a go and our Live Life Better Derbyshire healthy lifestyle service can support smokers through their attempt to quit, with expert advice and medications to deal with cravings.”

Since the Covid-19 pandemic hit, 44,010 smokers in the East Midlands have quit smoking, according to analysis by ASH and University College London.

However, a further 28,876 smokers across the region have tried to quit but have been unsuccessful.

Deborah Arnott, chief executive of ASH, said: “This campaign is designed to encourage those who’ve not yet succeeded, to wake up and decide today is the day to stop smoking.”

If you would like to stop smoking, call Derbyshire County Council’s Live Life Better service on 0800 085 2299 or 01629 538 200, email [email protected] or go to the website www.livelifebetterderbyshire.org.uk