Web chat to help quit smoking

21 September 2008 12:12am

Smokers will be able to chat to health advisers online for tips on quitting the habit as part of an NHS campaign.

The NHS Health Scotland campaign, which launches on Monday, aims to use new technology to encourage people to give up cigarettes.

Smokers will be able to log onto the canstopsmoking website every day between 6pm and 8pm and speak to a Smokeline advisor by web chat.

Interactive text messaging is to be introduced later this year while the www.canstopsmoking.com website offers information on support available for anyone who wants to quit smoking.

Kerry McKenzie, Health Improvement Programme Manager for Tobacco at NHS Health Scotland, said: "We're bringing Smokeline into the 21st century.

"The Smokeline telephone advisory service will still be available, but web chat offers an alternative to people who are more familiar, and comfortable, with chatting online.

"Our TV adverts have generated thousands of referrals to local NHS stop smoking services - but we're always looking at new ways to reach potential quitters."

Public Health Minister Shona Robison said: "This government is committed to working towards a smoke-free Scotland and that's why we're introducing a range of measures designed to make smoking less accessible and less attractive.

"As well as discouraging young people from starting to smoke in the first place - by raising the age for buying cigarettes to 18 and legislating to restrict display of tobacco products - we're also helping existing smokers to quit.

"The Smokeline telephone advice line has proved popular in the past and I'm sure that making use of new technology will enable even more people to access these services and take the first vital step to becoming a non-smoker."

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