A new campaign for the new year urging smokers to "Break the Habit for Good", which will include a counselling phone line and advice kit, was announced yesterday by the Minister for Health and Children, Mr Cowen.
Developed in co-operation with the Irish Cancer Society and the eight health boards, a feature of the new campaign will be support for those attempting to stop smoking.
Smokers are encouraged to phone 1850 218121, from December 27th, for a free comprehensive stop-smoking advice kit. The kit includes tips for stopping smoking and for staying permanently off smoking.
For those seeking local assistance, the kit contains contact numbers for health board support services and the stop-smoking Quitline, a counselling phone line being offered by the Irish Cancer Society.
Announcing the campaign yesterday, the Minister for Health said about 6,000 people died from smoking-related diseases every year. That was 10 times more than the number killed in road traffic accidents.
"This is a tragic waste of life which could be prevented if smokers could break the habit," the Minister said. "We have taken a very positive strategy with this campaign, promoting the health benefits of not smoking as opposed to the health risks of smoking."
As part of the campaign the Irish College of General Practitioners is working with the health boards with a view to training general practitioners on smoking cessation interventions.
The Minister stressed that smokers should bear in mind that it was never too late to stop. Former smokers lived longer than continuing smokers. For example, people who quit smoking before the age of 50 had half the risk of dying in the next 15 years, compared with continuing smokers.