If you quit, you become unstoppable
When a smoker becomes an ex-smoker he or she achieves something remarkable. The personal benefits are numerous: better health, better looks, more money and a boost in self-confidence. The effect on society (lower health care costs, stronger economy, etc.) is also huge. Therefore, this campaign is a celebration of the ex-smoker, as a proud and unstoppable role model for those who have yet to quit.
iCoach
Quitting is anything but easy. That is why this campaign offers a very effective tool to help smokers quit. iCoach is a free access digital health coaching platform available in 23 official EU languages. Unlike other digital health tools, the iCoach also focuses on those unwilling to quit and those with a high relapse risk. So far the results have been astonishing. More than 30% who start the programme quit smoking.
The EU’s take on smoking
The first tobacco control legislation was introduced in the 1980s. Since then, EU legislation and policy geared towards stopping and preventing smoking has come a long way. The number of smokers in the EU has been on a slow decline and quite a few have kicked the habit.
The Commission’s “Help – For a life without tobacco” campaign which sprang to life in 2005 recently ended in 2010. The fruitful campaign focused on smoking prevention, smoking cessation, and passive smoking and targeted, in particular, young Europeans between 15 and 25 years old. Today, “Unstoppable” is a natural progression of that campaign aiming to encourage smokers to quit the habit.
Much work remains to be done. A third of Europeans still light up on a regular basis and many continue to die from smoking-related illnesses. This is not only a human tragedy but a major health and socio-economic concern as it places greater burden on public health systems and robs Europe of workers needed to drive competitiveness in these tough economic times.
More info
- • Contact the European Commission
- • EU Commission, Directorate General for Health & Consumers
- • EU Commission, Public Health website / Tobacco page
- • Help: For life without tobacco
Motivated smokers?
Seven out of ten smokers want to quit smoking for their health. About half say the people around them or the price of tobacco make them think about giving up. One in five European smokers say concern for non-smokers, doctor’s orders, social stigma, and smoking restrictions in public places trigger thoughts of quitting.
Special Eurobarometer 332, May 2010
