Proud ex-smokers who’ve stubbed it out will be encouraging friends and loved ones to give it a go too in a new health initiative

People who manage to quit with the help of  NHS Stop Smoking Services will be able to “pass it on” with a new greetings card that they can give to friends or family.

It follows research that nine out of ten people who have used an NHS Stop Smoking Service would recommend it to other people trying to quit.

Christine Dryden, manager of Newcastle and North Tyneside NHS Stop Smoking Services, which is run by Newcastle and North Tyneside PCTs, said: “People usually feel like they’ve won the lottery after they quit smoking and really want to share their tips and experiences”.

“Anyone who quits will be able to take one of these cards away and give it to someone who they know wants to stop smoking, but just needs that extra bit of encouragement.

“This is a way of capturing that feeling of wanting to shout it from the rooftops and sharing it with others.”

Ailsa Rutter, director of Fresh, said: “Most smokers say they wish they could stop. So it’s really inspiring for anyone who is thinking about quitting to see that someone they know has managed to beat the cigarettes.

“Having the support from friends and family is one of the best things that can help someone quit successfully. It gives them an extra boost and makes them think about the end benefits.”

There are over 1,000 places in the region where smokers can get expert support and medication to deal with cravings, from GP surgeries to pharmacies, schools and community centres. Anyone is welcome, especially those who have already tried to quit before.

The North East has seen the biggest drop in smoking in England, from 29% of people smoking in 2005 to 21% of people in 2008.

Local NHS Stop Smoking Services offer one-to-one or group sessions with trained stop smoking advisers, with expert advice about managing your cravings, dealing with stress, possible weight gain and the medicines available to help you.

In the decade that NHS Stop Smoking Services have been running, advisers in the North East have helped more than 200,000 people to quit smoking.

Your best chance of quitting is through the NHS Stop Smoking Services. People can access help by phoning the Newcastle and North Tyneside NHS Stop Smoking Service on 0300 123 9290, or the NHS Helpline on 0800 022 4 332 or click on http://smokefree.nhs.uk/