New Year spurs smokers to stub out: Quitline sees massive increase

The planning process was a key part of remaining smokefree. Photo / Greg Bowker

Quitline sees bigger surge than usual of people registering — prompted by price rise and festive resolutions.

More and more Kiwis are choosing to kick their nastiest habit and give up smoking as a New Year resolution.

Quitline says it received 2352 registrations in the first 11 days of 2015, up 4 per cent on last year.

Every January, Quitline gets twice the usual monthly number registering for its service. It says this is due to a combination of the annual increase in the price of tobacco on January 1 and smokers setting their New Year resolutions.

Chief executive Paula Snowden said a price increase always prompted smokers to try to quit.

A cheaper pack of 20 cigarettes that cost $15 in 2014 had gone up 21 per cent and now cost $18.20, and a pack of 30g of loose tobacco had increased from $32.90 to $38.50, Ms Snowden said.

"Other reasons people are telling us that they want to quit are for their families and their health. A lot of people have spoken of New Year's resolutions to get fit and healthy. Others have mentioned things like lower insurance premiums or just being sick of it."

Quitline communications manager Sarah Wood said the 2013 Census showed a declining smoking population.

Those who quit in the New Year would be feeling the burn as they approached the two-week mark tomorrow, Ms Wood said.

She said advisers helped those registered with Quitline to focus on what triggers them to smoke, to strengthen their resolve at crucial moments in the quitting phase.

Common triggers included socialising with friends and family, the first coffee of the morning, when they get in their car or when they are feeling stressed, happy or sad.

"We then help the person to build a plan to change their behaviour and to deal with these triggers in a way that doesn't involve smoking."

The planning process was a key part of remaining smokefree.

Ms Wood said it was also important to have good reasons for quitting, and urged those who had quit to continue to focus on these reasons.

Cutting it out for daughter's sake

Kim Keary says she's saved $2,500 since registering with Quitline and breaking the habit.

Fourth time was a charm for Kim Keary, 46, from Pukekohe, who quit smoking a little more than six months ago.

Ms Keary said her main reason for quitting, after 30 years of heavy smoking, was for her 13-year-old daughter.

"I want to see her grow up, I want to watch her fall in love, get married and have children and there is quite a high possibility that if I continued smoking that would not happen."

Ms Keary said she also gave up because the price of a pack of cigarettes continued to climb, and said she had saved $2500 since registering with Quitline and breaking the habit.

"There were lots of reasons for it but it comes down to head space."

Ms Keary said she blogged throughout her journey, giving her a chance to speak to others in the same boat, and credits this with helping her quit. "It ... really helped me through it this time."