Help Southend-on-Sea become smoke free

December 2, 2015 by Southend Borough Council

Help Southend-on-Sea become smoke free

Wednesday 2nd December 2015

A consultation into the way the council tackles smoking and tobacco control has been launched.

Residents have been urged to complete the survey as the Borough steps up its ‘Smoke Free Southend’ strategy to deal with the habit.

Cllr James Moyies, Executive Councillor for Health and Adult Social care, says:
“Smoking remains the primary cause of preventable illness and premature death in Southend-on-Sea.

“Smoking is likely to kill half of all long-term smokers that don’t quit, since it causes lung cancer, COPD and heart disease; and if that isn’t bad enough, it is also costly to individuals with someone who smokes 20 a day, spending £1,800 a year on their addiction”

“With the anticipation of a new national strategy in the near future, our priorities and action plan will be the key to translating words into action. We are committed to monitoring progress and reviewing on an annual basis. I would ask that the local community help us in our aims by completing the consultation.”

The strategy identifies the following priorities and aims:

• Strengthen community action for tobacco control
• Reduce the uptake of smoking
• Reduce exposure to second-hand smoke
• Help tobacco users to quit
• Reduce inequalities caused by smoking
• Adopt a harm reduction approach

Work identified will include helping more people to quit through the Stop Smoking service, ensure education and prevention programmes are delivered in schools, reducing harm through the use of nicotine replacement and supporting the aim to make children’s play areas smoke free.

The consultation is open until 14th February 2016 And can be completed here.