HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) will be running a free seven week course in partnership with NHS East Sussex Community Health Services next January aimed at helping gay men to quit smoking. The stop smoking course is targeted specifically with gay men in mind because research shows that gay men are more likely to smoke, start smoking earlier, and continue smoking longer than heterosexual men.

Men interested in signing up to the course are invited to come to a free taster session at the Hartington Pub in Eastbourne on Thursday 6 January from 4-6pm to find out more. The seven week course will start the following week at the Hartington every Thursday. The team are also able to give general information and support around sexual health as well as give free condoms.

The charity is also running the course because smoking can be even more damaging to your health if you have HIV. HIV positive smokers are at a higher risk of smoking related illnesses than HIV negative smokers, and smoking has been shown to increase the risk of HIV-related illnesses such as lung cancer and emphysema.

Daniel Murray, Health Promotion Practitioner from THT in Eastbourne said: “Thinking of quitting smoking as part of your new year’s resolutions? Tried to give up before and never made it past the final hurdle? If you want to give up but don’t know where to start, we can help with our stop smoking course. We all know that giving up smoking can improve your health and reduce the risk of smoking-related illnesses whether you’re HIV positive or not.  So if you’ve been thinking of giving up smoking why not find out more about our course and take advantage of all the extra support available?”

For more information on the stop smoking course contact Daniel on 07584 086590 or email daniel.murray@tht.org.uk

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Notes to Editor

Terrence Higgins Trust is the UK’s largest HIV and sexual health charity with centres across England, Scotland and Wales. We're here to provide information and advice about HIV and sexual health and offer a range of services including sexual health checks, counselling and support groups.  We campaign for a world where people with HIV live healthy lives, free from prejudice and discrimination and we promote good sexual health as a right and reality for all. Terrence Higgins Trust relies on donations to deliver a wide range of services. To make a donation, visit www.tht.org.uk