The move comes after extra interventions to tackle tobacco addiction were approved by KCC's Health Reform and Public Health Cabinet Committee, on Tuesday, 14 May.
The range of initiatives funded by the Council's record £1.9million share of this year’s (2024/25) government Stop Smoking grant, will include:
- a service to motivate committed smokers to quit – seeking to encourage over 3,200 smokers who may not typically use stop smoking services to join a quit program and stub cigarettes out for good
- a stop smoking service for 12 to 25-year-olds – aiming to support 300 young people pledge to quit
- grants to help create more smokefree public spaces – to further deter smoking and protect non-smokers from harmful second-hand smoke
- targeted marketing campaigns – to raise awareness of local stop smoking services
“This extra money from government...is a great opportunity for KCC to help more people quit and improve their health, wellbeing and quality of life ”
Nationally and locally smoking rates continue to fall.
But smoking remains the key cause of preventable death, disease and disability, unequally affects the most vulnerable and costs the nation billions each year, including for health and care.
Kent County Council Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, Dan Watkins, said: “Smoking kills, causing many cancers and multiple harms throughout life – from stillbirths to dementia.
“We also know most smokers regret the day they first picked up a cigarette and developed an addiction they never wanted.
“This extra money from government, ringfenced to tackle smoking and set to continue with annual grants to 2029, is a great opportunity for KCC to help more people quit and improve their health, wellbeing and quality of life. In turn, it will also reduce demand on already pressured health and care services.”
“Our smoking population is also more likely to face other inequalities, including unemployment or low-paid work or poor mental health. These residents deserve extra help to escape an addiction that adds to money worries, anxiety and depression”
KCC Director of Public Health, Dr Anjan Ghosh, said: “Smoking rates are declining but smoking still costs Kent £1.3billion a year and many of the county's remaining smokers are the ones who find it hardest to quit.
“Our smoking population is also more likely to face other inequalities, such as unemployment, low-paid work or poor mental health. These residents deserve extra help to escape an addiction that adds to money worries, anxiety and depression.
“We look forward to working with our healthcare partners and others to strengthen support to help Kent kick the habit and contribute to creating a smokefree UK.”
