ALTHOUGH the general percentage of smokers in Cyprus has dropped from 29 per cent to 22 per cent since 1995, women smokers have increased from 11 per cent to 11.3 per cent.
At a news conference held yesterday at the Cyprus Anti-Cancer Society offices, members of the organisation, along with representatives from the Ministry of Health and the EAC, discussed the dangers of smoking and the new methods that are being launched in order to assist smokers in giving up.
It is a well-known fact that smoking is considered the plague of our time. According to calculations of the International Health Organisation, 5 million people die every year as a result of smoking.
Dr Rita Komodiki, representative of the Ministry of Health commented: “Smoking has become the number one epidemic in Europe. One in three people are smokers.”
And this does not only apply to smokers. It involves non-smokers who, against their will, become victims of passive smoking.
Tragically, half of the people that lose their lives are way too young, ranging between the ages of 35 and 69.
Smoking is to blame for 30 per cent of cancer sufferers, 25 per cent of heart and brain related ailments and 85 per cent of breathing diseases, such as chronic bronchitis.
All over the world, progressive countries are taking measures in order to keep smoking under control.
Constant effort is being put into enlightening the public and youngsters about the dangers of smoking and preventing or reducing the use of cigarettes.
Laws have been enforced all over Europe banning smokers from smoking in public places and workplaces.
The aim of these laws is not only to protect non-smokers from passive smoking, but also to help smokers reduce or even quit their nicotine intake.
Efforts are being made to help smokers quit, with a varying success rate. Women and youngsters are the least successful, while men and older people are more likely to succeed.
As time has gone on and more information has come to light, more and more people have started to question the effect that smoking is having on their health and consequently have tried to give the habit up.
Addiction to Nicotine is strong, however, and therefore giving up can be extremely difficult. Even so, the strong-willed ones have managed to succeed.
In Britain 11 million smokers have succeeded in quitting.
There is a large number, however, who have failed and this is mainly due to the fact that they tried to do it on their own, without any help and guidance.
Most of these people have been disheartened and given up on the idea, believing that they are not capable or strong enough.
There are a high percentage of smokers who want and try to stop smoking. In Cyprus, according to research carried out by the Cyprus Anti-Cancer Society in May this year, 73 per cent of smokers have attempted at least once to quit.
This is a huge percentage. Dr Stavros Martoudis, president of the Non-Smokers League, told reporters: “Out of the 160,000 smokers we have in Cyprus, over 100,000 have made the effort at least once to quit. And unfortunately many, most of them couldn’t do it.”
It is these smokers, the ones who want and are trying to stop smoking, which the Non-Smokers League is aiming to help. And they plan to do so in a way that is scientifically correct and effective, by opening their own Telephone Service to Quit Smoking.
Services such as this exist in 110 countries worldwide. If a smoker decides that he or she wants to quit smoking, all they have to do is pick up the phone. Through a number of pre- recorded messages they are given help and advice on how to quit and how to handle the psychological effects of quitting
They can also be advised on Nicotine addiction and the withdrawal symptoms they may suffer after quitting.
Scientific Advisors will also be available on the phone, ready to listen to problems and offer solutions. If needs be they will be able to subscribe Nicotine substitutes.
With a bit of willpower and the help of this phone-line, smoking may be much easier to quit than people think.
n Smokers’ helpline: 22-448000
