As millions of New Year’s resolutions are made today, new NHS Smokefree research reveals that many smokers within the region are largely underestimating how damaging smoking is to their personal health and finances.

The research shows:

• 90 per cent of smokers in the North East underestimate the number of people who die annually from smoking related disease by at least 70,000 (the actual figure is over 80,000 deaths a year as a result of smoking)

• Three quarters (75 per cent) of smokers in the North East underestimate how many long term smokers die early from smoking related disease (the actual figure is that one in two of all long term smokers will die early from smoking related disease)

• Almost half (46 per cent) of smokers in the North East underestimate the number of cancer deaths caused by smoking (the actual figure is that smoking is estimated to be responsible for over a quarter of cancer deaths in the UK.)

Smokers in the North East also underestimate the financial costs of smoking - on average smokers estimate that smoking 20-a-day is costing them £1661 per year. With a packet of 20 cigarettes now costing on average £6.59 smokers are underestimating this by over £800. In reality, a 20-a-day smoker could save £2,405 a year if they quit.

The research also found that many smokers feel they are unable to quit for reasons including they are too stressed to try and quit (25 per cent), they’ve tried before and failed (40 per cent) and they don’t think they have the willpower required (27 per cent)

 In reality, research shows that smoking causes more stress and anxiety than not smoking and that quitting can help to reduce stress. Evidence also shows that you can increase your chances of quitting successfully by using NHS support and that your willpower can be boosted with simple exercises available in the new and improved Quit Kit.

Help is at hand for the thousands of smokers who want to quit in the New Year. The Department of Health is launching an advertising campaign aimed at giving people the right tools to quit smoking by encouraging them to get a new and improved NHS Quit Kit from a participating pharmacy in England from 1 January.

To find your nearest stockist text SEARCH and your postcode to 88088 or search online at www.nhs.uk/smokefree.

The NHS Quit Kit has been developed by experts together with smokers and ex-smokers and contains practical tools and advice to help smokers quit smoking for good. Items include a health/wealth wheel which helps quitters calculate how much they are saving and the improvements they’ll see to their health; MP3 downloads which are scientifically proven to reduce cravings and a ‘tangle’ toy to help keep hands busy.

The Quit Kit also contains information on other free quitting help such as local Stop Smoking Services, plus smokers can sign up to get new motivational text messages straight to their mobile phone.

Ailsa Rutter, director of Fresh, said: “Stopping smoking is the best thing you can do for your health - and quitting will be the best gift you can give your loved ones in 2012.

“Most smokers admit they know that smoking is bad for them, but it is often the case that those who do quit do so only after receiving a personal health-related ‘shock’. Many smokers wrongly assume that even light smoking means a lower chance of getting a smoking related disease. This research really does hit home that every cigarette is capable of doing you damage.

“The new year is a key time for quitting and the right support is really important. We have fantastic stop smoking services in the North East which help people to quit smoking. Anyone thinking about quitting is four times more likely to succeed if they visit their local stop smoking services – so give it a go and help make 2012 a happier, healthier and wealthier year.”

Anne Milton, Public Health Minister said: “Quitting smoking is the very best thing you can do to improve your health this New Year. What’s clear is that the majority of smokers want to quit smoking and free NHS help is available to help them quit for good.

“The new and improved NHS Quit Kit is available in chemists who are working with us across England and will give smokers who want to give up advice, information and tools to help them enjoy a healthier 2012.”

To find your nearest Quit Kit pharmacy stockist text SEARCH and your postcode to 88088 or search online at nhs.uk/smokefree