Who are the Quitlines targeted at?

Everyone. David Byrne, the European Commission?s Health and Consumer Affairs Commissioner, said:

"Tobacco use is the most significant avoidable source of disease and premature mortality. In the European Union alone, over 500,000 deaths per year are caused by tobacco consumption while globally 4 million die annually from tobacco. Smoking leads to significant death and disease from cancer, cardiovascular disease and respiratory disease in adults as well as severe health effects in children exposed to tobacco smoke. The death toll caused by tobacco consumption can and must be avoided."

A Quitline aims to improve access to information, advice and counselling to all. It is aimed at the general population in the first instance, but then can target specific groups with bespoke services for:

• Pregnant smokers
• Youth
• Minority ethnic groups
• Other vulnerable groups
• Disabled groups through text phones and other technologies