Leeds Resident Supports Regional Quit Smoking Campaign

Local former smoker shares her experience to encourage others to quit

A former smoker from Leeds, Clair Smith, has spoken out in support of a new regional campaign aimed at helping people quit smoking across Yorkshire and Humber. Clair smoked for nearly 30 years before successfully quitting, motivated by the health impacts she witnessed in her family.

Clair Smith’s journey to quitting smoking

Clair Smith tried multiple times to stop smoking using various methods such as quitting cold turkey, nicotine patches, lozenges, and vaping, but initially struggled to maintain abstinence. She attributes her eventual success to being mentally prepared and receiving professional support.

She explained, “My life was controlled by smoking in the past, and I wanted to stop. I knew I needed advice and support to do so. I couldn’t do it alone as last year was really tough. My dad died in February from heart failure after smoking all of his life and watching him suffer was heartbreaking. Losing him inspired me to try again, and I was determined to succeed this time.”

Clair is encouraging the estimated 72,900 smokers in Leeds to seek help and not to be discouraged by setbacks, emphasising the value of local stop smoking services.

‘Turn the Corner’ campaign launched across Yorkshire and Humber

The campaign, called ‘Turn the Corner’, has been developed collaboratively by the Centre for Excellence, all 15 local authorities in the region including Leeds City Council, and Yorkshire Cancer Research. It features stories from people who have quit smoking, including a mother and daughter from the region, Wendy and Amy Robinson.

The campaign highlights the health risks of smoking, including the message that each cigarette reduces life expectancy by approximately 20 minutes. It is being promoted via TV, radio, and social media platforms.

Public health perspectives and support available

Victoria Eaton, Director for Public Health at Leeds City Council, noted that although smoking rates have declined over recent decades, around 15.6% of adults in Leeds still smoke, equating to more than 111,000 people.

She said, “Evidence shows that specialist support greatly increases the chances of quitting smoking for good and Clair’s story is a great example of how, with that right support, you can turn that corner and quit. Our Leeds stop smoking services are here to support all those ready to make that positive step to a healthier future and quit for good.”

The campaign aligns with Leeds City Council’s ambition to reduce smoking prevalence by at least 0.5% annually, which is approximately 2,500 fewer smokers each year. Recent data indicates the city is exceeding this target, with GP records showing 4,493 fewer smokers between 2024 and the present.

Health risks of smoking and benefits of quitting

Tony Graham, Director of Retail, Services and Operations at Yorkshire Cancer Research, emphasised the link between smoking and various cancers, including lung, kidney, mouth, throat, oesophagus, bladder, liver, pancreas, stomach, bowel, ovary, cervix, breast, and some forms of leukaemia.

He highlighted that smoking remains the leading preventable cause of cancer worldwide and that quitting smoking can significantly improve treatment outcomes and survival rates even after a cancer diagnosis.

Support and resources for quitting smoking

• Residents of Yorkshire and Humber can access six months of free use of the Smoke Free app, including nicotine replacement medication worth up to £300, as part of the campaign.
• Local stop smoking services offer personalised advice and support to help individuals quit successfully.

For more information and support, visit the Leeds stop smoking service website: https://leedsstopsmoking.co.uk/

Additional details about the campaign and resources can be found at yestoquit.co.uk.