Help to stop smoking

Stopping smoking

Smoking is one of the main causes of death in Thurrock – 1 in every 2 long-term smokers die early because of smoking.

Smoking can increase the risk of death from cancer. It causes:

  • illness
  • disability
  • heart disease
  • lung disease

To reduce these risks, you must stop smoking. The benefits of giving up smoking include:

  • reduced risk of lung cancer, heart disease and other lung disease
  • reduced risk of disability and illness caused by smoking
  • keep others from being exposed to second hand smoke
  • your food will taste better
  • you will reduce the chances of your children suffering from bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma attacks, meningitis and ear infections
  • you will improve your fertility levels and your chance of a healthy pregnancy and baby
  • you will improve your breathing and fitness

Research tells us that two-thirds of smokers say they want to stop.

Quit for COVID

Smoking increases the risks posed by coronavirus (COVID-19). The UK's Chief Medical Officer and the government Health Secretary have both said smokers are at increased risk from COVID-19.

Smoking harms the immune system, reducing the body’s natural protection against infections, like coronavirus. This means smokers are not only at greater risk of getting coronavirus, but the infection is likely to last longer and be more serious than it would for someone who does not smoke.

Where to get help

You can get help to stop smoking by phoning Thurrock Healthy Lifestyle Service, who can arrange an appointment with a Stop Smoking Adviser either at your local GP practice or at a venue local to you.

There are a number of other ways you can get information and support to stop smoking:

Our strategy

Download our strategy for prevention, treatment and tobacco control to reduce smoking in Thurrock.

Thurrock Tobacco Control Strategy, 2016-2021 (PDF 792.59KB)

We are currently working with local partners to update our tobacco control strategy. We expect to publish the updated strategy during winter 2022/23.