www.quit.org.uk

Break Free is a young people’s campaign run by QUIT, the UK charity that helps smokers to quit.  The program is set up to educate young people about the dangers and effects of smoking cigarettes so that they can make informed decisions about whether or not they want to take up the habit.  Young people visit schools throughout the UK and put on lively, interactive presentations, which are very successful at capturing and effectively maintaining the attention of their young audiences.  Break Free is not about pressure, pointing fingers or using scare tactics; it is about making sure kids know all the facts about smoking early on in life. 

Many young people are not aware of the risks they take when they inhale a cigarette, or the fact that they are every bit as in danger from them as their parents are.  Break Free presenters make it their aim to inform kids so that they will know what they are getting into or what they are avoiding when they say no.  Kids are taught that there are 4000 chemicals contained in each cigarette, and what some of those are. 

They learn that carbon monoxide from cigarettes can make their blood thick and push out the oxygen that is so essential to its proper flow; that 60 CD’s, or a top designer suit, or a trip to Florida could be purchased with the money that a ten a day smoker spends each year. They are taught about disease of the arteries, which is most commonly caused by smoking where people acquire flesh rotting gangrene and have to have amputation—more than 5,000 occur each year.  Cigarettes give you cancer, smoking while taking the pill, and other serious topics are put out there for students to contemplate. 

Break Free presenters are in touch with the issues and pressures that young people face, but talk to them as adults with respect and practicality.  This induces a high response rate from students, who often feel very misunderstood by adults.   Students who would like help and support to stop smoking are encouraged to ring the Quitline free on 0800 00 22 00.