Cllr June Mummery, Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member for coastal affairs, communities and public health, said:
“It’s great to see these numbers coming down. Smoking is still one of the biggest causes of poor health, so this drop is really positive news for Suffolk.
“Giving up smoking isn’t easy, but these figures show what people can achieve when they have the right support.
“Every person who quits reduces their risk of serious illness and improves their health. If you’re thinking about quitting, get in touch with Feel Good Suffolk. It’s free and it could be the help you need to stop for good.”
Georgina Howe, Feel Good Suffolk’s Strategic Manager, said:
“Smoking is still a big public health issue and the leading cause of preventable death and disease. We’re therefore delighted to learn that fewer people in Suffolk are now smoking compared to a year ago. It shows that, working with our partners, Feel Good Suffolk is making a difference and helping even more people to quit across the county. The fact the percentage of adults who smoke in Suffolk is now less than 10% and less than the national average feels like a big step. This is down to a lot of hard work and dedication by our team since we launched three years ago. I’d also like to thank all the organisations we work with across Suffolk who support our work.
“It’s also down to the commitment and success of those who’ve stopped smoking. It’s not easy and for most people it takes several attempts to find the method that works for them. We still need to work hard to make sure those who still smoke and need our support know we're here to help.
“If you’re thinking about quitting or know someone who is – you’re three times more likely to be successful with our help and it’s free. So, even if you’ve tried before, please do reach out to us. We’re here to help!”
Anyone who is ready to stop smoking can find out more about the free support available from Feel Good Suffolk at feelgoodsuffolk.co.uk/stop-smoking
