Orkney health services play their part during World No Tobacco Day

Today, May 31, has been World No Tobacco Day and Smoking Matters – the stop smoking services in Orkney — have highlighted their role in pushing for a smoke free Orkney.

Through its work, Smoking Matters has helped some ex-smokers in the county. Ewan Brown from Kirkwall, is a classic example of how the service can help people kick the habit.

He estimates that he had been smoking 20 cigarettes a day for 50 years. He tried to quit a few times before but has struggled. However, with assistance from Smoking Matters he hasn’t had a cigarette for two years.

He said: “It’s made a big, big difference. They were perfect for me — the staff really helped me quit the fags”

He explained that he took to smoking while in the Royal Navy, having joined when he was fifteen, in 1965.

Ewan’s daughter and son-in-law had successfully stopped smoking using the support from the local service and that was the motivation for him to give it another go.

He said: “My daughter wanted me to stop for my health and for the grand bairns. I’ve not had a fag for just over two years now and it’s the best thing I’ve ever done – the family are delighted.

“I’ve six grand bairns and I can spend the money I would have spent on fags on them.  The car’s nice to get into now too, I never realised that the smoke smell was so strong.”

Ewan’s son also quit recently, although he didn’t use the service.

Evonne Rendall, Health Improvement Officer and part of the public health team who run the Smoking Matters services said,  “People do quit smoking on their own, which is a great achievement, but you can be more than four times as likely to be successful in quitting smoking using a service like Smoking Matters Orkney, than if you go it alone”

“And you’ll feel the benefits of stopping smoking from day one. Quick wins such as saving money and fresher breath is followed by long-term rewards for both mental and physical wellbeing”.

To contact Smoking Matters Orkney for an appointment or an informal chat please call 0800 0356344.