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1.3 million smokers to quit for the Millennium

Health charities are predicting that an unprecedentednumber of smokers will be trying to quit smoking for the Millennium. Calls toQuitline®,(0800 00 22 00) already the busiest smokers' helpline in the world, are up by29% this year and it is expected that the Millennium will produce a tidal wave of at least1.3 million quit attempts.

Experts from The Smoking Control Network, whosemembers include many of Britain's top health charities dealing with smoking relateddiseases, agree that smokers improve their chances of quitting if they have support whilsttrying to stop. Recent research presented at the International Quitlines Conferencerevealed that 22% (50,000 callers) had stopped smoking 12 months after speaking to aQuitline counsellor.

Professor Gordon McVie,Director General of The Cancer Research Campaign commented: "The evidenceshows that we have one of the most successful Quitlines in the world and anyone thinkingabout stopping smoking should use it."

Carol, from Manchester,called Quitline to say: "Having someone to talk to made all the difference tomy stopping. Instead of reaching for my cigarettes, I got into the habit of reaching forthe phone. Thanks to Quitline, I haven't smoked for over a year."

Major General LeslieBusk, Director General of the British Heart Foundation adds, "It is good toknow that the effectiveness of Quitline is widely recognised. The dramatic increase in thenumber of calls proves that smokers also appreciate this valuable service. We hope thatrecord numbers of smokers will see this special New Year as a trigger to quitsmoking."

Clive Bates, of ASH,said: "January will be a miserable month for the tobacco companies as theyhaemorrhage customers and sales, but England's Quitline which is the world's busiest andmost successful, will be buzzing with record levels of calls."

Notes to the editor

Smoking Control Network members include: The Cancer Research Campaign, Imperial CancerResearch Fund, British Heart Foundation, British Lung Foundation, The Stroke Association,the British Dental Association, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain andQUIT®. The Network is supported by an educational grant from SmithKline Beecham whichmarkets a nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) patch.

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