Tobacco Control Teams established by the Istanbul Provincial Health Directorate have reached more than 20,000 people since April as part of fieldwork aimed at raising awareness about the harms of tobacco products and supporting people who want to quit smoking.

The teams operate in streets, squares and other areas where people gather, approaching smokers to explain the health risks associated with tobacco use and informing them about available services to help them quit.

During conversations, people who express a desire to quit are informed about the support available throughout the cessation process. When considered appropriate, the teams also conduct nicotine dependence tests and measure carbon monoxide levels in the breath to help assess the effects of smoking.

Following these assessments, smokers are directed to smoking cessation clinics according to their level of dependence and individual needs. The teams also provide information about the Alo 171 Smoking Cessation Counseling Hotline.

Dr. Mete Güngör, deputy head of the Istanbul Provincial Health Directorate’s Public Health Department, said that tobacco and tobacco products remain a major public health problem worldwide.

Tobacco use causes more than 7 million deaths globally each year, Güngör said, while also drawing attention to the serious health risks associated with exposure to secondhand smoke.

He stressed that tobacco control efforts should not focus solely on smokers and that raising awareness throughout society is also important.

Güngör said smoke-free air inspections aim to reduce exposure to tobacco smoke and protect smoke-free areas, while smoking cessation clinics represent another important part of efforts to combat tobacco use.

Smoking cessation clinics

There are more than 60 smoking cessation clinics across Istanbul, Güngör said, adding that services are offered free of charge at hospitals, primary health care facilities, Healthy Life Centers, district health directorates and family health centers.

At the clinics, individuals’ level of dependence and overall health are assessed, and personalized cessation plans are prepared when necessary, supported by medical examinations.

Güngör said people seeking to quit can also receive psychosocial support and counseling, while smoking cessation medications supplied by the Health Ministry are provided to those who need them.

Appointments for smoking cessation services can be made through the Centralized Doctor Appointment System (MHRS), he added.

He also said mobile and online services have been introduced to make smoking cessation support more accessible, while mobile teams made up of doctors provide services directly in the field.

Güngör said the Tobacco Control Teams were established to address misinformation about tobacco products and provide citizens with accurate information about their health risks.

The teams also conduct nicotine dependence tests and carbon monoxide measurements to help smokers better understand the effects of tobacco use and raise awareness of its harms.

"Since this work began in April, we have reached more than 20,000 people in Istanbul. More than 7,000 of them have been referred to the Alo 171 Smoking Cessation Counseling Hotline and smoking cessation clinics,” Güngör said.

Güngör said the teams seek to communicate with smokers without making them uncomfortable, focusing on accurate information and awareness rather than pressure.

The initiative aims to promote a smoke-free lifestyle, prevent exposure to secondhand smoke, discourage people from starting to smoke and support people who want to quit.