1/2 Tobacco companies sold people a lie that filters made smoking safer. But filters don’t protect smokers from cancer-causing chemicals, and cigarette butts are the world’s no.1 littered item.

Stopping smoking can give people money they didn’t know they had. 💷 Frankie from County Durham saved around £400 a month after quitting. Small changes, big difference - helping people quit can transform both health and finances. Watch his story 🔽 #SmokeFreeFuture

Local authority & NHS leaders in the NE back a #SmokefreeGeneration. 7 in 10 adults support raising the age of sale for tobacco – giving children a future free from addiction, death and disease. Time to protect the next generation. Read our press release🔽 shorturl.at/oCW1o

Positive news from @freshsmokefree.bsky.social that illicit tobacco purchasing has become less frequent with people buying it less often. www.asiantrader.biz/illegal-toba...

As Big Tobacco fights plans to create a #SmokefreeGeneration, this @ashorguk.bsky.social blog shows how industry has a long history of trying but failing to prevent health policy on our biggest killer - and why protecting children is fully compatible with EU rules 🔽 shorturl.at/EpNvl

We welcome the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. But legislation alone won’t deliver a #SmokeFreeFuture. We also need a national tobacco control plan and a clear roadmap to get there. This is a gap - and one we’d welcome being addressed in the Bill. bit.ly/4jiPsIv

“Very few things impact population health and reduce inequalities as powerfully as tackling tobacco. That’s why we must keep the momentum going.” — Ewan Maule, @NENC_ICS #Smokefree #NHS

Cathy thought smoking helped her cope with stress. She realised it only made it worse, but stopping helped. Cathy is one of the faces of our #SmokingSurvivors campaign. Support and encouragement can help people trying to stop, and turn a new year into a #SmokefreeFuture @smokefreenhsne.bsky.social

🚭 Local councils are helping to drive a #SmokeFreeFuture ✔ 90% now prioritise tobacco control ✔ Quit success up 34% since 2022/23 Read the full report 👇 ash.org.uk/uploads/ASH_... @ashorguk.bsky.social

This winter we are highlighting the impact of smoking on NHS winter pressures and calling on healthcare professionals to do VBA- a simple 30 second intervention that saves lives. #VeryBriefAdvice #SmokefreeNHS #SmokefreeFuture

For 25+ years, Stop Smoking Services have helped people quit with support that works. With expert support, people are 3x more likely to stop smoking – and around 400,000 successful quits in the NE prove it. Meet Emma from Newcastle City Council 🔽

The latest phase of our #SmokingSurvivors campaign is back. Real stories show the serious harm smoking causes - from heart disease to cancer. Every cigarette takes around 20 minutes off your life. Stopping reduces harm and gives life back, no matter how many times you’ve tried.

1/2 Local authority and NHS leaders in the NE support creating a Smokefree Generation. 7/10 NE adults support raising the age of sale for tobacco, giving children a future free from the addiction, death and disease it inflicts.

We’ll be taking a short break from posting over Christmas and New Year 🎄 Thank you for all your support over the past year - it’s really appreciated. We’ll be back in the early New Year. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

During winter, colds & flu hit harder for smokers - but quitting helps.Advisers, NHS teams, councils, workplaces & communities can all support stronger immunity, easier breathing & fewer hospital visits.Free local stop smoking support is available — it’s never too late. @smokefreenhsne.bsky.social

🚭Local councils are driving a record expansion in stop smoking support 🚭 NEW ASH data shows 90% now prioritise tobacco control and quit success is up 34% since 2022/23. A major step toward a smokefree future and an end to the harm from tobacco.

Big Tobacco profits. The public and society pay the price. A tobacco levy could raise £700m a year for quitting support. The public support this and we stand with @ashorguk.bsky.social @cancerresearchuk.org & the APPG.

1/2 Illegal tobacco gets children hooked and fuels crime. Latest 2025 NE survey shows: * 10% of tobacco smoked is illegal (£60m duty loss) * 21% of smokers have bought it, but frequency is lowest on record * Pubs and shops are two key sources for illegal sales

Celebrating success! 🎉 Congrats to Jessica Embleton from @CNTWNHS who is winner of Advisor of the Quarter at our Stop Smoking COI, where stop smoking teams share learning & support more people to quit.

Getting friends or family on board with a quit attempt can make quitting smoking easier.Linda smoked for 47 years & stopped alongside her family. With support from her local Stop Smoking Service & family, she’s been smokefree 5 months. Watch her story 👇 youtu.be/i1KfX2mTzzQ

Celebrating success! 🎉 Congrats to Darlington Stop Smoking Hub, our Team of the Quarter at the Stop Smoking Community of Improvement. Your work is helping more people go smoke-free. 👏

🎉Huge congratulations to Nick Forbes - ASH Trustee and Chair of the Breaking Down Barriers Commission - who has been appointed as a Peer in the New Years Honours List. 🎉 labourlist.org/2025/12/new-...

1/2 Linda smoked for 47 years and lives with COPD – a condition that around 2.3m people in the UK have mainly caused by smoking. With the support of her local Stop Smoking Service and her family, she stopped earlier this year.

1/2 Since the Tobacco and Vapes Bill was introduced in Parliament an est 124,000 young people have started smoking. 69% of NE adults back raising the age of sale which is a key policy in the Bill.

Flu hospitalisations are surging. In winter, colds and flu hit harder for people who smoke - but stopping helps. NHS teams, councils and communities all play a part. Free local stop smoking support is available. It’s never too late to quit.👇 @smokefreenhsne.bsky.social

1/2 🎁 This Christmas, stopping smoking has transformed life for Colin from Newcastle – improving his health, easing money worries, and opening new opportunities for his family. Huge thanks to @Quit_Newcastle for the support that helped him turn things around.

Medics, ex-smokers & health groups support the Tobacco & Vapes Bill ✅ But 42% of submissions came from the tobacco industry or its allies - twisting facts to block progress 👎#SmokefreeFuture. This is worth a read🔽 ash.org.uk/resources/vi...

Carrie has supported people to quit smoking with @N_landCouncil. Over 25 years of stop smoking services, partners have seen how stop smoking aids, emotional support & flexible appointments help more people achieve a #SmokefreeFuture. Here’s her advice 🔽

Stopping smoking can give you money you didn’t know you had.💷 Frankie from County Durham saved around £400 a month after quitting. Imagine what that could do for Christmas 🎄 Presents, dinner, decorations…small changes, big difference. Watch his story 🔽 #SmokeFreeFuture

Celebrating success! 🎉 Congrats to Tracy @CNTWNHS & Kelsie @Gateshead_NHS for winning Quitter of the Quarter at our Stop Smoking COI, where stop smoking teams share learning & support more people to quit.

1/2 In winter, colds and flu hit harder for people who smoke - but quitting can make a real difference. We all have a role to play in helping people to stop smoking: advisers, NHS teams, local councils, workplaces and communities.

Big Tobacco make record profits year on year. In the meantime, our NHS and local economy is impacted and people who smoke face a lifetime of ill health. A levy on tobacco companies could raise £700 MILLION every year for stop smoking support and prevention.

Smoking worsens winter pressures on the NHS. Tobacco not only causes disease - during the winter it also makes viruses such as flu and COPD worse. It's vital to remind people that it’s never too late to quit. @smokefreenhsne.bsky.social

We are pleased to support this position from @fphuk.bsky.social. The tobacco industry remains incredibly profitable, while producing and marketing a product that will kill more than half of long-term smokers.

Tobacco companies told people filters make smoking safer – it was a lie. Filters don’t protect people from cancer, COPD and other diseases caused by smoking. Filters are harmful to health and harmful to our environment – they make up 66% of littered items in the UK.

Pressure is rightly growing on organisations to explain why they are taking money from an industry that kills more than half of it's long-term customers. www.artsprofessional.co.uk/news/london-...

Nearly half of COPD patients (48%) start a quit attempt when offered support—compared to just 34% of non-COPD patients. - Screen every COPD patient for tobacco dependency. - Refer immediately. Early action saves lives. #SmokefreeNHS #COPD #TobaccoDependency

Smoking rates in the North East are at the lowest on record. Positive - but still work to reduce our biggest driver of disease, early death and health inequalities. A #SmokeFreeFuture is within reach which includes supporting the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. @ashorguk.bsky.social @cancerresearchuk.org

1/2 Since 2000, illicit cigarette smoking in the UK has fallen by almost 90% - that’s 13 billion fewer a year (HMRC). Yet the tobacco industry continues to exaggerate the problem to lobby against regulation as the Tobacco & Vapes Bill returns to Parliament.

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1/2 Tobacco companies sold people a lie that filters made smoking safer. But filters don’t protect smokers from cancer-causing chemicals, and cigarette butts are the world’s no.1 littered item.

#LungCancerAwarenessMonth Alfie smoked for almost 60 years. A lung cancer diagnosis made him quit - with local NHS support. “If I can stop after 60 years, so can you. Let’s continue supporting people like Alfie every day. @smokefreenhsne.bsky.social

1/2 Three years of lifesaving work. Our NHS Tobacco Dependency Teams across the North East & North Cumbria have: ✅ Identified 95,845 patients who smoke ✅Referred 67,900 for in-hospital support ✅Helped 2,925 patients achieve smoke-free lives

1/2 Smoking has hit a record low in the North East - just 10.2% of adults now smoke, down almost 65% since 2005 👏 A #SmokeFreeFuture is within reach to further reduce our biggest killer and driver of disease, early death and inequality.

Mark helps people break tobacco addiction with Northumberland County Council Stop Smoking Service. In the 25th Year of stop smoking services, Mark has seen life-enhancing changes – more quit aids, behavioural support, & flexible appointments – all helping more people achieve a #SmokeFreeFuture.

124,000 young people have started smoking since the Tobacco & Vapes Bill. 73% of NE adults support raising the age of sale. As it reaches Lords Committee, @DHSCgovuk calls for evidence on licensing - we’ll submit with a #SmokeFreeFuture at the heart.

Baroness Walmsley makes a great point about recent industry interference in alcohol licenses and why a joint license for tobacco and alcohol is not a good idea. @freshsmokefree.bsky.social @balancene.bsky.social @aha-uk.bsky.social

1/2 Big Tobacco makes billions from addiction - while our health, communities and the NHS pay the price. A levy on tobacco companies could raise £700m a year for life-saving stop smoking support and prevention. #Budget25

1/2 Three years of lifesaving work! Our NHS Tobacco Dependency Teams across the North East & North Cumbria have: ✅ Identified 95,845 patients who smoke ✅Referred 67,900 for in-hospital support ✅Helped 2,925 patients achieve smoke-free lives

1/2 Smoking has hit a record low in the North East, but it is still our biggest killer and driver of premature disease, death and health inequalities. 10.2% of adults smoke – down nearly 65% since 2005. #SmokeFreeFuture @ashorguk.bsky.social