1000 people quit online

Monday, 30 July 2007

1000 people quit online

About 1000 people who want to quit smoking have joined the online quit community at quit.org.nz since it started a year ago.

Quit Executive Director Helen Glasgow says the community has become a unique place where people quitting smoking can offer each other support and advice.

"Many non-smokers simply don't understand what smokers go through when they try to stop smoking. The online community is a place where people feel comfortable they will be understood."

Ms Glasgow says people using quit.org.nz are usually offering very useful advice to stop cravings, such as drinking water and doing more exercise. She says some of the stories are very personal and relate to the deaths of family members from smoking-related illnesses.

"Reading the blogs is a real reminder of the suffering caused by this chronic addiction."

Despite lingering perceptions that the web is a male domain, the majority of the community members are women and many of them aren't young. She says 69 percent are women and the oldest community member is 75.

The site is run by The Quit Group which is charitable trust and a leading provider of smoking cessation services, including the free national Quitline.

Ms Glasgow says quit.org.nz is going to expand over the coming months with the addition of online ordering of nicotine patches and gum and more interactive quitting tools.

ENDS

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