Stopping Starts Here: Quit Smoking This Stoptober
Queer as Smoke Project Manager, Malcolm Struthers, takes a look at Stoptober and why it os the perfect time to start to stop!
October is Stoptober, and if you’ve been thinking about stopping smoking, this could be a good time to give it a go.
You don’t have to do it alone.
Queer as Smoke is here to help LGBTQ+ people across Calderdale and Kirklees access friendly, inclusive stop smoking support that works for them.
Why Stoptober?
Stoptober is all about making a quit attempt together.
Millions of people have used the campaign as a reason to stop smoking, with thousands more taking part every October.
The idea is simple. Aim to go 28 days without smoking. Evidence shows that once you reach 28 days smoke-free, you are five times more likely to stay quit for good.
You might decide that this October is the month you stop completely. Or it might simply be the point where you start thinking seriously about quitting, get some support and make a plan.
Either way, stopping starts here.
Smoking and LGBTQ+ communities
Smoking does not affect every community equally.
Research has consistently found higher smoking rates among some lesbian, gay and bisexual people compared with heterosexual people. For example, ONS data found that 22.2% of gay and lesbian adults smoked in 2018, compared with 15.5% of heterosexual adults. More recent government work also recognises that smoking remains more common in some LGBT+ communities.
There are lots of reasons behind this.
Stress, discrimination, poor mental health, social isolation and experiences of exclusion can all play a part. Smoking can also become connected with socialising, taking a break, managing difficult feelings or simply getting through a stressful day.
That means telling someone to “just stop” is rarely helpful.
Queer as Smoke takes a different approach. We want LGBTQ+ people to know that support is available, without judgement and with an understanding that everybody’s relationship with smoking is different.
You don’t have to rely on willpower
Stopping smoking can be difficult, particularly if cigarettes have been part of your life for a long time.
Getting the right support can make a real difference.
Local stop smoking services offer free, expert and personalised support. Depending on what works for you, that might include one-to-one advice, help planning your quit attempt, nicotine replacement products or discussing alternatives such as switching completely from cigarettes to vaping.
The NHS also provides free tools including the NHS Quit Smoking app, which can help you track your progress, see how much money you are saving and get support as you go.
There isn’t one correct way to stop smoking. The important thing is finding an approach that works for you.
Tried before? Try again
If you’ve tried stopping smoking before and started again, that does not mean you can’t quit.
Many people make several attempts before stopping for good. Each attempt can tell you something useful about your triggers, what helped and what you might do differently next time.
Stoptober gives you another opportunity to have a go. Start with 28 days. Take it a day at a time. Get support when you need it.
Stopping smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health.
Your body starts to recover soon after your last cigarette, and the benefits continue to build over time.
Quitting can reduce your risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke and respiratory illness. It can also save a significant amount of money and, once you are through the initial withdrawal period, many people find that stopping smoking helps them feel calmer and more in control rather than more stressed.
And it is never too late to stop. Whether you’ve smoked for five years or 30 years, stopping now can still make a difference.
A smoke-free generation is coming
The UK is also changing the law around tobacco.
From 1 January 2027, it will be illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009. The change is designed to create the UK’s first smoke-free generation.
But millions of adults already smoke. That is why accessible, inclusive support for people who want to quit remains so important.
Stopping starts here
This Stoptober, you don’t need to have everything figured out. You just need somewhere to start.
Queer as Smoke works with local stop smoking services across Calderdale and Kirklees to help LGBTQ+ people find the right support.
You can find out more about Queer as Smoke, explore your local options and take that first step towards stopping.
Because quitting smoking is easier with the right support, and nobody should feel they have to do it alone.