The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective: Community Smoking Cessation Service was developed to address smoking cessation needs in areas where there was clear evidence of high prevalence of smoking. This service is aimed at all smokers who want to quit with a special focus on the three target groups who were identified by government strategy; ·Disadvantaged smokers ·Pregnant smokers ·Young people

Areas of Belfast have highest levels of deprivation in the whole of UK, female smoking prevalence at 72% compared to 26% (UK). ·58% of women used smoking as a stress reduction strategy. ·33% of population suffer from severe psychiatric disorders. ·59% of population requested help for stress.

Much of this problem has been attributed to over 30 years of civil unrest and sectarian tension.

Methods: The Community Service offers both one to one and group support in a range of setting. Clinics run weekly including out of hours provision arranged to meet local need. Support services are sustained over a period of time to provide long term support and aid relapse prevention. Synergistic partnerships were developed within communities which enabled service to target the “hard to reach” smokers.

Results: The service has supported over 550 smokers over the past eighteen months with a quit rate at 4 weeks of 52% and a further 71% reduced.

Added value from Smoking Cessation Service: ·Developed innovative referral pathways. ·Facilitated Smokefree Workplace Policy development and implementation ·Raised Community Profile ·Empowering individuals and communities ·Sustained by community