New Year Campaign Launches to Assist Smokers in Wales

Public Health Wales has initiated a new campaign aimed at assisting individuals throughout Wales in their efforts to quit smoking as the New Year begins. The campaign, titled Break Its Hold, addresses the various challenges smokers encounter, including stress and busy lifestyles, while providing practical support through Help Me Quit, which offers free, expert-led services.

Many smokers express a desire to quit, with numerous attempts made each year. Research indicates that utilizing structured support from the NHS significantly enhances the likelihood of success. Help Me Quit delivers personalized advice at convenient times and locations, along with access to free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) and other cessation medications.

The financial advantages of quitting smoking are substantial. With the average cost of a pack of 20 cigarettes reaching £16.45, a person smoking one pack daily spends approximately £115 weekly, translating to around £6,000 annually. Smoking remains the primary preventable cause of illness and death in Wales. Between 2020 and 2022, an average of 3,845 deaths among adults aged 35 and over were attributed to smoking, accounting for more than one in ten deaths in that demographic. Additionally, smoking resulted in over 17,000 hospital admissions each year during the same period.

The latest data from the National Survey for Wales reveals that 10% of adults were smokers in the 2024–25 period. While this statistic shows progress, it also highlights the ongoing challenges faced in tobacco control.

Mary-Ann McKibben, Consultant in Public Health, stated, “Smoking continues to harm thousands of lives in Wales every year—but change is happening. Fewer people are smoking than ever before, and with the right support, even more smokers can be part of that positive trend.” She emphasized the importance of making quitting smoking a New Year’s resolution, noting that access to free expert-led advice can significantly aid in achieving this goal.

Public Health Wales is committed to fostering longer, healthier lives for individuals across the nation. To achieve this, their expert advisers from Help Me Quit are available to support individuals in quitting smoking for good.

Individuals seeking assistance can visit www.helpmequit.wales or www.helpafiistopio.cymru for free expert help and access to stop-smoking medications. Further information about signing up for Help Me Quit can also be found on these websites.