Smokers offered cash to quit

Smokers in the poorest areas of one of Scotland's biggest cities are to be offered £12.50 a week to kick the habit.Participants in the new scheme in Dundee will receive the money on an electronic card which they can redeem in their local supermarket for fresh food and groceries - but not alcohol and cigarettes.NHS Tayside hopes the £500,000 pilot will help 900 people stop smoking over the next two years.Those taking part will receive nicotine replacement therapy through their local pharmacy, where they will have to do a weekly carbon monoxide breath test to prove they are still smoke-free.They will also receive social support from Dundee Healthy Living Initiative where they can access smoking cessation support, physical activities and other lifestyle advice and support.This new incentive scheme follows the success of the Give it up for Baby initiative in Tayside, which encourages and supports pregnant smokers to give up cigarettes.Paul Ballard, Deputy Director of Public Health at NHS Tayside, said: "Currently there are 36,000 smokers in Dundee, half of whom live in poverty."Although current smoking cessation services are working well, because of the complexities of poverty and health we know we need to do more to tackle this."It fits with our anticipatory care approach to health which really seeks to influence a person's health before they become seriously ill."If this initiative means that people who would otherwise have carried on smoking and developed a heart condition or cancer decide to quit, then we will be delighted that we are helping to deliver a change in the health of those who need it most."The health board aims to recruit 1800 people for the pilot, and hopes to persuade half the participants to quit smoking for good.If the scheme is successful, it could be rolled out across Scotland.

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ITN | June 21, 2008

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