Jump to full article: The Scotsman (uk), 2009-06-19
Author: Adam Morris
Intro: MORE than 11,000 smokers in the Lothians will be given extra help to quit in the next two years under fresh plans.
Targets issued by NHS Scotland have shown that, if successful, it would help reduce the number of smokers in the area by eight per cent by 2011 – a significant dent in statistics.
The local health board has already made considerable progress in coaxing some of the 140,000 Lothians smokers away from cigarettes.
But the Scottish Government wants more to be done, particularly among teenagers and pregnant women.
In order to provide the help NHS Lothian will have to find 11,000 smokers who are already one month into the quitting process. Experts deem this a key time where many lapse back into the habit unless provided with more support, such as cessation classes and one-to-one help.
More training has already been organised for community pharmacy staff to help cessation projects, while more staff have been taken on with the objective of reducing smoking.
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