Vodafone Warriors fans receive treatment to do the hard yards

Fans of the Vodafone Warriors today received a boost in efforts to make it through the team's match against the South Sydney Roosters without a cigarette.

Smokers at the Vodafone Warriors' home ground of Mt Smart Stadium were offered an opportunity to try free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) lozenges and receive consultations from tobacco quit coaches in a bid to combat cigarette cravings. The lozenges are a safe way to get nicotine without all the harmful chemicals that come with tobacco smoke.

The promotion provides support for the Vodafone Warriors' smokefree initiative and is part of the build up to World Smokefree Day, May 31.

Associate Health Minister Damien O'Connor endorsed the idea of giving away
NRT and said evidence shows that using NRT during a quit attempt doubles the chances of quitting long term.

"In January this year we announced that over 10 000 health practitioners are now able to distribute Quit Card to their patients as part of new moves to increase access to NRT under the government's ongoing tobacco control programme. Reducing the burden of chronic disease remains a key priority for this Government and supporting people to quit smoking is an important part of this."

Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Director, Ben Youdan says, "Today we showed fans at Mt Smart that help and support is available to quit. The lozenges helped fans ease their cravings for a cigarette during the game and gives them a chance to try out something new". Mr Youdan adds that the ultimate goal for the stadium is to go entirely smokefree.

Vodafone Warriors CEO, Wayne Scurrah says the Vodafone Warriors are proud to be a smokefree organisation and believe that sport and good health go hand in hand. "We're pleased to support those who want to quit smoking, or want help to get through a game without cigarette by offering free nicotine lozenges," said Mr Scurrah.

The Vodafone Warriors introduced smokefree outdoor seated areas to Mt Smart Stadium from last season with the assistance and support of smokefree partner organisations such as, The Cancer Society and The Health Sponsorship Council, as well stadium owners, Auckland Regional Council.