An estimated one million people quit smoking during the first lockdown in April 2020 and hundreds of thousands have maintained that success, with 2020 having the highest rates of successful quitting on record according to the charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH).

Now, pharmacy teams can direct those thinking about quitting to a new film, commissioned by Southend Borough Council and made available to all local authorities in the UK. The film includes stories of inspirational quitting journeys in 2020 and outlines the multiple benefits of doing so, including better quality of life, improved mental health and protecting loved ones.

“This has been a tough year, but local councils have shown they are more than up to the challenge, showing tremendous commitment to their local communities during the pandemic,” said Deborah Arnott, chief executive of ASH. “Stop smoking services have continued to operate, despite councils having to pretty much rebuild them from scratch to provide socially-distanced support delivered remotely.”