“ Stoptober is based on the insight that if you can stop smoking for 28-days , you are five times more likely to be able to stay quit for good . The campaign chunks down the quitting process , presents it as a more manageable 28 days and rallies people around a specific date to get started .”
Stoptober is now in its sixth year and has been backed by health experts across multiple disciplines from the start . Dr Mike Knapton , Associate Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation describes the occasion as “… the perfect opportunity for people to take action to protect their health and join thousands of others who are also making a quit attempt this month .”
It also comes with a glowing endorsement from Public Health England ’ s Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Gina Radford :
“ We also have a range of free support that can go direct to your phone , laptop or tablet via the Stoptober app , a daily email service or Facebook Messenger bot . The new Stoptober website also has advice and information on stop smoking services and quitting aids . Stoptober has helped lots of smokers quit for 28 days and beyond . So if you smoke , why not make this Stoptober the time you quit - for good .”
The date to kick-off Stoptober is October 1 , but don ’ t worry if you or your smoking friend missed the starting gun . You can find PHE ’ s clear and accessible resources via their website : campaignresources . phe . gov . uk .
Personal recommendation and word of mouth testimony play a huge role in both reducing smoking rates and increasing the number of vapers – and these two phenomena are closely tied . Vaping is known for the strong , intimate sense of community it creates , and for many this is the extra step needed not just to get off cigarettes , but stay off them . Few can quit such an addictive habit without a friendly system of support and accountability .
So , this Stoptober , you can take the opportunity to do something wonderful for a friend or family member who smokes . If your usual warnings about cigarettes and recommended vapes are falling on deaf ears , Stoptober comes with a boost . Having a set date and time period , as well as treating cessation as a trial run can help the quitting process . A single smoke-free month is often enough for the positives to show . With smoking rates falling fast and the e-cigarette scene in bloom , Stoptober sees more adherents every year . The campaign ’ s new endorsement for e-cigarettes will hopefully open minds and restart conversations around e-cigarettes and their use in all public health initiatives .
And where do we come into it ?
Stoptober 2017 will be Vapouround ’ s second foray into the campaign , and it ’ s looking better than ever . Vapouround are hosting a competition via Facebook , wherein vapers tag friends who smoke and we are giving away vaping goodies including free vape starter kits .
We hope that for many smokers , this Stoptober won ’ t just be another ticked box in the calendar , but the beginning of a permanent lifestyle change for the better .
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