Smoking

The Gwynedd Tobaco Control Group aims to increase awareness of smoking cessation services as well as putting in place preventative schemes aimed at reducing the numbers that begin to smoke in the first place.

FACT: 31% of adults in Gwynedd admit that they smoke. This is the second highest figure in Wales and raises major concerns

Why give up smoking?

Smoking causes almost 90% of deaths from lung cancer, around 80% of deaths from bronchitis and emphysema, and around 17% of deaths from heart disease.

About one third of all cancer deaths can be attributed to smoking. These include cancer of the lung, mouth, lip, throat, bladder, kidney, stomach, liver and cervix.

People who smoke between 1 and 14 cigarettes a day have eight times the risk of dying from lung cancer compared to non-smokers.

Stopping smoking reduces the risk of developing many fatal diseases.

One year after stopping, the risk of a heart attack falls to about half that of a smoker and within five years falls to a level similar to that of a non-smoker. Within 10-15 years of quitting, an ex-smoker's risk of developing lung cancer is only slightly greater than that of a non-smoker.

How to give up

For help and support on how to give up smoking contact your local pharmacy or give the Stop Smoking Wales Service a call on 0800 085 2219.

The smoking ban

Wales became smoke free on the 02nd of April 2007. The main aim of the ban is to protect workers and the general public from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke in enclosed or substantially enclosed workplaces or public areas.

If you have any questions about what the legislation means for you or you want guidance on what is an acceptable smoking shelter you can visit the smoking ban Wales website.