The Quit Group Celebrates Government Commitment To Smokefree Aotearoa By 2025

National stop-smoking organisation, The Quit Group, applauds the Government’s commitment to making New Zealand essentially a smokefree nation by 2025 and to halving smoking prevalence by 2015.

“The Government approach includes a wide range of initiatives to address smoking in New Zealand, of which The Quit Group has a key role to play in supporting smoking cessation at the national level,” says The Quit Group’s Chief Executive, Paula Snowden.

She continues: “This announcement is a victory for all smokers struggling to free themselves from this highly addictive product.

“We will do everything in our power to make this vision a reality. This goal can only be achieved if every single smoker, responds to the compelling health, social, pricing and graphic warning information and says that smoking has no place in their home. At The Quit Group, we are ready, willing and able to support each and every one of these people to realize their personal dream to be smokefree in Aotearoa.”

Snowden continues: “Through our Quitline service, we offer a range of free online and telephone based smoking cessation tools. Smokers can also call 0800 778 778 or log on to our website www.quit.org.nz to access subsidised nicotine patches, gum and lozenges, which cost as little as $3 for an eight week supply. Research shows that people who use a support service such as Quitline together with the patches, gum or lozenges are five times more likely to successfully quit than those who give up without assistance.”

The Quit Group is committed to reducing smoking rates throughout New Zealand with a particular focus on Māori and Pacific populations. In 2010, The Quit Group received over 58,200 registrations for its telephone, online and text-based services.

Anyone seeking support can call Quitline for free on 0800 778 778 or visit www.quit.org.nz for online support, the online blog community and to register for Txt2Quit, a free text-based service. Quitline can also put callers who request face-to-face support in contact with relevant service providers.

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