There's no better time than now to quit smoking, and no better way than a professionally run course that's free of charge. The first of two 3-hour Quit Smoking sessions will be held at the Casuarina Community Care Centre on Tuesday 4 August from 1.00 pm to 4.00 pm.
Community Care Centre Nurse, Fionnuala O'Neill, said the course will be presented by trained professionals and is designed to inform and support smokers through quitting.
"Offering support and real advice by qualified experts helps you understand the psychological and physical dependence on tobacco and gives you a suite of tools to help you quit," she said.
"The course will be run in conjunction with Quitline, a confidential telephone based service designed to help quit smoking. Quitline counsellors will ring participants during and after the sessions to offer further support if clients want them to."
Dr Christine Connors, Director of DHF's Preventable Chronic Disease Program, said the best way to prevent serious smoking-related illness is to quit smoking.
"The Northern Territory has the highest smoking rate in Australia, with around 28 per cent smoking, compared to the national average of 18 per cent.
"The types of conditions caused by smoking include lung cancer, heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease, which may lead to amputation and emphysema."
However, Dr Connors acknowledges that breaking free of the smoking habit is not easy.
"Evidence shows that Quit Courses can assist in learning effective methods to quit smoking and more importantly, remain a non-smoker."
Registrations are essential and can be made by phoning 8922 7301.