Background and Objectives

According to the result of the thematic household survey conducted by the Census & Statistics Department between April and July in 2021, there were around 581,500 conventional cigarette smokers in Hong Kong, accounting for 9.5% of people aged 15 or above. These smokers, on the average, consumes around 13 cigarettes per day.
Smoking is hazard to health; tobacco smoke contains harmful substances such as tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide, as well as carcinogens, which will harm nearly every organ in the body and severely affect our health.
Therefore, smoking cessation is beneficial at any age for everyone. In addition to health benefits, quit smoking saves your money and let you be a better role model for your children and the younger generation.
To encourage more smokers to quit smoking, Pok Oi Hospital is invited by Department of Health (DH) to launch the “Pok Oi Hospital Smoking Cessation Program” in April 2023, to

establish one-stop, integrated management of smoking cessation service by providing cessation counselling by nurses, inform on medications as well as tips to deal with withdrawal symptoms;
launch various platforms and promotional activities to encourage smokes to quit.

Our Services

Commencing 1st April 2023, three Pok Oi Hospital Smoking Cessation Centres had been set up by Pok Oi Hospital, separately located at One Sky Mall of Tin Shu Wai, Leung King Community Centre in Leung King Estate, Tuen Mun and Lam Shek House of Ping Shek Estate. They provide one-stop smoking cessation services and our nurses will:

provide professional smoking cessation counselling and information on medications to smokers
try to understand their reasons for smoking
educate them on the disadvantages of smoking and benefits of quitting
encourage smokers to make a quit plan
support and teach them methods to manage withdrawal symptoms

To facilitate quit smoking at home, the centres also provide free postal services of smoking cessation medications in enhancing accessibility and choices.

Pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation is safe and effectively. Free counselling medication is fee for all Hong Kong residents (including new immigrants and ethnic minorities)

How to find our help?
- Smoking Cessation Hotline: 2628 1062
- Smoking Cessation Centres
  - Smoking Cessation Centre (Tin Shui Wai Centre)
  - Smoking Cessation Centre (Leung King Centre)
  - Smoking Cessation Centre (Ping Shek Centre)
  - Outreach and Mobile Smoking Cessation Service
- On-line Registration
  
  – Please fill in the required information and submit. Our staff will contact you within 3 working days
- “Mail-to-quit”Program
  Our Smoking Cessation Centres also provide free postal services of smoking cessation medication to facilitate quit smoking at home. After assessment, suitable smokers will be able to receive smoking cessation medication through the post.
  However those with chronic illnesses on medication, or pregnant women or those who experienced allergic reactions to smoking cessation medication would need to consult their doctors for medical advice before joining the Program.

Why quit?

Health Hazards of Smoking

Tobacco smoke contains harmful substances such as tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide as well as various carcinogens. These toxins are harmful to nearly every organ in the body and will cause a variety of disabilities and fatal diseases and cancers, which will severely affect our health. Even taking one cigarette a day will still increase the risk of cancers and premature death.

Impact of smoking to organs of the body

Organ	Impact
Lung damage	Shortness of breath, coughing and more mucus buildup
Skin problem	Skin looks leathery and wrinkly, losing elasticity, and skin being stained
Mouth problems	Stained teeth, bad breath, gum problems

Diseases caused by smoking

Cancers	Lung cancer, oral cavity and pharyngeal cancer, laryngeal cancer, oesophageal/stomach cancer, etc.
Cardio-cerebral-vascular diseases	Coronary heart disease, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, etc.
Respiratory diseases	Pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, etc.
Pregnancy-related diseases	Ectopic pregnancy, fetal growth restriction, premature delivery, miscarriage, etc.
Others	Diabetes, impotence and infertility

Other severely harms caused by smoking

Secondhand smoke

Secondhand smoke is a mixture of the smoke exhaled by smokers (mainstream smoke) and the smoke given off by the burning end of tobacco products (sidestream smoke). Secondhand smoke contains different types of chemicals with carcinogens. People who have close contact with smokers will inhale second-hand smoke directly.

The harmful effects of secondhand smoke

The acute effect of secondhand smoke to human is eye irritation. Secondhand smoke can cause or associate with the following diseases:
- Cancers such as lung cancer, nasal sinus cancer and breast cancer (pre-menopausal young women)
- Cardiovascular diseases, such as heart disease and stroke
- Respiratory diseases, such as asthma, lower respiratory tract infections and symptoms of respiratory tract irritation
- Complications of pregnancy and fetal development, such as miscarriage, low birth weight and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Third-hand smoke

Third-hand smoke refers to the chemical residuals of tobacco smoke that clings to various surfaces, clothes, hair and skin after the cigarette is extinguished. These toxic chemical substances can remain on the surfaces of household utensils, furniture, carpets, floors, walls and ceilings, etc.

The harmful effects of third-hand smoke

When the Nicotine inside the tobacco smoke residual reacts with different surfaces, it will become carcinogenic products which can enter the human body mainly through dust inhalation or direct contact with skin. Thus to family members and children are especially under high risk.

Most alkaline cleaners available in the market cannot remove these substances. Therefore, no smoking is the best way to protect your family. Research studies indicate that children are more likely to develop tobacco addiction if their parents have smoking habit; so please QUIT immediately.

For enquiry and appointment booking, please call2628 1062. For details, please click here.

Benefits of Quitting

The earlier you quit, the more you will benefit

Immediate benefits from quit smoking

After 1 day	blood pressure, heart rate and the carbon monoxide level in blood drop to normal
After 2 days	your sense of smell and taste improve
2 to 12 weeks	circulation and lung function improve
1 to 9 months	coughing and shortness of breath decrease
1 year	chance of having coronary heart disease is cut in half
5 to 10 years	risk of stroke is reduced to that of a non-smoker risk of dying from lung cancer is about half that of a smoker risk of major cancers is reduced (including cancers of the oral cavity, nasopharynx and larynx, )
15 years	risk of coronary heart disease is that of a non-smoker

Keep away from smoking to earn a better health

Protect your family from the harm of secondhand and thirdhand smoke

Save your money for not buying cigarettes, let’s using the cost calculator to calculate how much money you save if you quit smoking

Decrease the complications of pregnancy

Stay young

For yourself, love your family, quit smoking and take action NOW! We can help you!

For enquiry and appointment booking, please call

2628 1062. For details, please click here.

Smoking Cessation Centres

Activity Highlights

Successful Story Sharing from ex-smokers

Other Quit Smoking Information

Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office, Department of Health
Download “Quit Smoking App”

Smoking Cessation Centre (Tin Shui Wai Centre)