“I'm a true believer that you don't waste the time, money and effort of professionals."
This, the motivation behind why 60-year-old Dean King from the Kingsway area of Rochdale, recently quit smoking, having just survived a major heart attack and triple heart bypass surgery.
With the NHS currently spending more than £1.9 billion a year treating diseases and illnesses caused by smoking, Dean received a clear message from his medical professionals.
“You’ve got to quit.”
Dean recalled as this year's Stoptober campaign draws to a close this week.
“That was my final straw.”
Beginning his search for help to quit smoking, Dean found the borough’s free stop smoking service, Living Well – a service he describes as "superb" and the support he’s received from health experts as "second to none".
“I got a telephone call one day from a woman called Asma who introduced herself and asked me to come in.
“When you first walk in, you're a bit concerned because you're on edge and you're agitated – bearing in mind you're packing in smoking – but I was put at ease as soon as I walked through the door.
“There has been the odd hole where I've gasped and wanted a cigarette, but with the willpower and the support that I've had here.
“It's a drop-in centre. You can pick up the phone and the support is there for you.”
Before he had accessed this support, Dean was smoking up to 30 cigarettes a day, a habit he first picked up when he was just 13.
But having now packed it in, one of the biggest benefits Dean currently sees is the amount of money he is able to save. Dean added:
“I'm not spending obviously hoards of money,
“I'm now not buying the six sleeves of cigarettes every month, which was costing me an extortionate amount, you know it was within the hundreds.
“I've actually just booked a week away in November and a week away to Greece in March of next year, which I would not normally do.”
When asked what his message was to other smokers who are thinking of quitting, Dean replied:
“You can do it.
“I'm not saying that it’s an easy tread, but I did it and I have smoked a good 40 odd years.”
Residents can still access a number of quit smoking support sessions across the borough this Stoptober.
Here residents can speak to a Living Well adviser and be provided with free stop smoking aids such as patches, gum and e-cigarettes to help them quit.
They can also receive expert behavioural advice and support. This includes a quitting plan, information on how to manage cravings, and how best to use quitting aids.
Kuiama Thompson, director of public health and communities, added:
“Sometimes in life we need a serious wake up call to realise what we have and what we could lose if we don’t make healthy lifestyle changes.
“I’m really pleased to hear Dean has quit smoking and I hope his story helps to inspire thousands of others in our borough to quit smoking too as it is one of the best things you can do for your health.
“By quitting, you’re also playing a massive part in reducing the pressures our NHS is under, given the impact that smoking has on our health system and services.”