Portsmouth Smokers Struggle To Quit

'Don't Go Cold Turkey' roadshow is in Portsmouth today, to help people quit smoking for good.

Nearly two thirds (60 per cent) of Portsmouth based smokers, the equivalent of 24,000 people, will try and quit smoking in January, but half will have failed within just one week, according to a new survey among 6,300 current or former smokers.  In addition, one in ten quit attempts will last less than 24 hours.
 
One in five adults in Portsmouth currently smoke (19 per cent), a figure that is slightly lower than the national average of 21 per cent. On average, smokers in the region have unsuccessfully attempted to quit three times before, with one in ten (11 per cent) having tried five times or more.  Despite this, half (50 per cent) feel confident they will quit smoking within the next six months.  
 
The survey, commissioned by Pfizer Limited to launch its Don’t Go Cold Turkey campaign, revealed the most popular method to quit smoking in Portsmouth is going ‘cold turkey’ – a method of trying to give up immediately using will power alone. However, research suggests this is the least effective method with only three per cent remaining smoke-free after one year.  
 
As part of the campaign, a ‘Don’t Go Cold Turkey’ road show will be heading to Portsmouth Harbour’s Gunwharf Quay shopping centre today (Monday 9th January?.  Smoking cessation advisors will be on hand to offer brief advice to smokers who are motivated to quit, while cold turkey sandwiches will be given out to illustrate the point that ‘there is a time and a place for cold turkey and quitting smoking isn’t one of them’.  The road show aims to ensure that motivated quitters are aware of the options available to them, while helping them to understand how taking the right approach can significantly increase the chances of successfully breaking the cycle of nicotine dependence.
 
Revealing the extent of nicotine addiction amongst Portsmouth’s smokers, half admit to stealing a cigarette from a friend or work colleague in desperation, while just under a quarter have smoked the remains of a previously discarded cigarette butt because they had run out.

Furthermore, 24 per cent have picked apart a broken or half-finished cigarette to fashion a new one and three per cent even confessed to raiding their child’s piggy bank to buy more cigarettes. Perhaps not surprisingly, 58 per cent agree that quitting smoking is one of the hardest things you can ever do.