Fresh was the UK's first dedicated regional programme set up in the North East in 2005 to tackle the worst rates of smoking related illness and death in England.
Smoking is our biggest avoidable killer - more than alcohol, accidents, suicide, illegal drugs and diabetes combined and a massive drain on the NHS and economy. The source of this is the tobacco industry which sells and promotes an addictive product.
Fresh works with the regional media to ensure that the benefits of quitting, the harm of smoking, and tobacco issues are kept in the public eye all year round.
If you are a professional in the North East working in the field of tobacco prevention please join our Tobacco Control Alliances section on the Knowledge Hub
If you are interested in work around illegal tobacco visit
NORTH East health campaigners today labelled an advertising campaign from the world's biggest cigarette company as "unbelievable hypocrisy" and called for tobacco companies to be made to pay for the damage they cause.
Fresh has echoed calls in a new report from the Royal College of Physicians for a significant change in the way the NHS treats smoking – ensuring all smokers are provided with support to quit from the moment they are admitted as a routine part of all hospital care.
EFFORTS in the North East to nearly half smoking have been praised in Parliament by the Public Health Minister Steve Brine and Shadow Public Health Minister Sharon Hodgson.
With just a week to go until No Smoking Day on Wednesday 14 March, Fresh is encouraging smokers to give quitting another go – and try to quit at least once a year until you stop for good.