People receiving treatment for drug or alcohol misuse are significantly more likely to smoke than the general population. With national data showing smoking rates ranging from 43.9% to 70.2% depending on the substance group.
To help tackle smoking-related health inequalities, Change Grow Live (CGL), Cheshire East’s commissioned drug and alcohol service, has partnered with One You Cheshire East’s Be Smoke Free team to deliver dedicated stop smoking clinics for service users in Crewe and Macclesfield.
The new ‘Recovery, Health and Freedom Clinics’ will launch on 6th October in Macclesfield and 7th October in Crewe, with weekly sessions offering tailored stop smoking support for people accessing CGL services.
CGL is a free and confidential service for people across Cheshire East who want to make positive changes in their lives and achieve their personal goals. Support is personalised to each individual and can include workshops, structured group sessions, one-to-one support, harm reduction advice, blood-borne virus testing and access to life-saving interventions.
Quitting smoking is one of the most positive steps people can take to improve their health and wellbeing including those affected by drug or alcohol use.
Stopping smoking not only reduces the risk of serious illnesses such as cancer, heart disease and stroke, but can also support recovery by reducing triggers, improving mental wellbeing, boosting physical health and increasing disposable income.
Karolina Ayres, Be Smoke Free Team Lead at One You Cheshire East, said:
“We were delighted when CGL approached us about working together to support their service users. Through our new ‘Recovery, Health and Freedom Clinics’, people will be able to speak directly with one of our Stop Smoking Advisors and access free support and treatment to help them quit smoking.
This partnership reflects our shared commitment to improving people’s health and wellbeing. By working together, we can help people make positive changes, achieve their recovery goals and become smoke-free.
Recovery is about more than overcoming dependency. It’s about creating a healthier future, taking back control and empowering people to achieve the life they want.”
Be Smoke Free is a free service that supports people in Cheshire East to quit smoking through a combination of proven stop smoking treatments and regular support from trained advisors. By integrating smoking cessation support into drug and alcohol services, the partnership aims to improve health outcomes, strengthen long-term recovery and help people lead healthier, smoke-free lives.
Hugo Bastos, Cluster Lead Nurse Cheshire East and Halton at CGL shares
“This is a fantastic project, and I am incredibly proud to be part of it. We work with some of the most vulnerable people in our communities, who are often stigmatised and excluded. By building meaningful partnerships like this, we can bring professionals together and provide the people we support with opportunities and interventions they might otherwise never have heard of.”
For more information about Be Smoke Free, visit www.oneyoucheshireeast.org/smoke-free/