Local people from across Forth Valley have successfully managed to quit smoking after signing up to a local stop smoking campaign. Hundreds of people have sought help from NHS Forth Valley’s Stop Smoking Service and local pharmacists during the Stopathon Campaign, which has been running since the New Year and has seen many local smokers come forward and sign a pledge to quit by No Smoking Day on the 9^th March 2016.

The Campaign has been well received with Specialist Stop Smoking advisers, who work with dedicated partners, offering one-to-one support to people in their workplaces and offering free alternatives to tobacco such as patches and gum as well as other nicotine replacement therapy products. Some smokers found feasting on strawberries instead of fags, helped to ease their cravings while others found the support from local stop smoking advisers gave them the help they needed to quit for good.

Robert Watt, who works with Superglass in Stirling, managed to quit after receiving one-to-one support from Stop Smoking Adviser Kathleen Gilmour, who went along to his workplace.

Josephine Hughes from Sauchie, who started smoking over 40 years year ago found that attending her local stop smoking clinic at Clackmannanshire Community Healthcare supported her to finally quit and she already feels much better for it.

Friends Heather Campbell and Marie Whailin from Grangemouth attended a community clinic at Paragon Housing Association and supported each other to help give up.

Kathleen Gilmour, NHS Forth Valley Stop Smoking Adviser, said: “Giving up smoking is one of the most important things people can do to improve their health. Letting people know about local services to help them quit will reduce the number of tobacco-related illnesses across Forth Valley. It is also very important that we try to protect the next generation from starting to smoke and give them the best start in life.”

“Most people who finally stop smoking enjoy a great sense of achievement and pride when the craving for nicotine starts to ease, the cash that went up in smoke can then be spent on other things and the person starts to feel healthier, fresher and fitter.”

To speak to a stop smoking adviser or for help to stop please call 01786 43329 or email

FV-UHB.FVStopSmokingService@nhs.net. You can also visit the NHS Forth Valley website www.nhsforthvalley.com/health-services/stop-smoking-service-clinics for further information in the local area.