'East England ranks 5th in nation for quitting smoking', new study shows

Study suggests vaping as "a less harmful alternative" to smoking cigarettes 

A recent study conducted by online vape store GoSmokeFree using data from the NHS Stop Smoking Service in England between April to September 2023 has revealed the regions across the UK with the highest success rates in quitting smoking.

According to the data analysis, the East of England emerges as the fifth most successful region in the UK for smoking cessation while the Isle of Wight in the South East region with 3,124 people quitting per 100,000 smokers were the most successful at quitting smoking.

The study ranked regions based on the average number of successful quitters per 100,000 smokers. The South East takes the lead, followed by the North East and the North West. The East of England secured the fifth spot with an average of 981 smokers per 100,000 successfully quitting smoking during the designated period.

Southend-on-Sea emerges as the most successful area within the East of England, boasting 1,591 smokers per 100,000 who have managed to kick the habit.

However, the data also reveals that out of 3,032 smokers who set a quit date in this region, 834 were unable to quit within the specified timeframe.

The study further breaks down the success rates by local authority areas within each region. For instance, in Lincolnshire, the most successful area within the East Midlands, 1,274 smokers per 100,000 have successfully quit out of 2,123 who set a quit date. Similarly, Gateshead in the North East and Sefton in the North West show notable success rates.

Notably, while the South West ranked the lowest amongst the regions to successfully stop smoking with only an average of 599 smokers per 100,000 giving up smoking, Cornwall has emerged with the most self-proclaimed quitters with 955 per 100,000 in total.

A spokesperson from GoSmokeFree commented on the findings, emphasizing the challenges associated with quitting smoking due to nicotine withdrawals and mental hurdles leading to long-term health issues including lung cancer and gum diseases.

The spokesperson highlighted various methods to assist individuals in their journey to quit smoking, including keeping a smoking diary, quitting cold turkey, and transitioning to vaping as a less harmful alternative.

The study underscores the importance of continued efforts to support smoking cessation initiatives across regions for improving overall health outcomes and reducing the burden of smoking-related illnesses.