Public Health Wales has launched a new campaign to help people across Wales quit smoking as the New Year begins.
The Break Its Hold campaign highlights the real-life challenges smokers face, from stress and busy routines to finding time for themselves, while offering practical support through Help Me Quit’s free, expert-led services.
Most smokers want to quit and many try each year, but research shows that using structured NHS support greatly improves the chances of success.
Help Me Quit provides free, personalised advice at times and locations that suit individuals, along with free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) or other stop-smoking medication.
Giving up smoking also brings significant financial benefits. With the average pack of 20 cigarettes now costing £16.45, someone smoking a pack a day spends around £115 a week, or roughly £6,000 a year.
Smoking remains the leading 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 linked to smoking—more than one in ten deaths in that age group.
Over the same period, smoking caused more than 17,000 hospital admissions every year.
The National Survey for Wales reported that 10% of adults smoked in 2024–25, showing progress but also underlining the continued challenge.
Mary-Ann McKibben, Consultant in Public Health, said: “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. We’re urging people to make this a New Year’s resolution that they stick to and we know that using our free expert-led advice will help them do that. Public Health Wales wants to help people live longer, healthier lives. To do this, our expert Help Me Quit advisers are available to support people to quit smoking for good.”
People seeking support can visit www.helpmequit.wales or www.helpafiistopio.cymru for free expert help and access to stop-smoking medication.
Find out details about how to sign up to Help me Quit here: Help Me Quit
Spotted something? Got a story? Email news (@) deeside.com
Latest News