The suggestion that Bradford smokers on low incomes could be offered free supplies of nicotine patches or chewing gum to help them to kick their habit might raise a few eyebrows. After all, if people can afford cigarettes surely they should also be able to afford devices designed to help them to stop?

However, as anyone who smokes (or who used to smoke) knows, it isn't quite as easy as that. Many people who smoke appreciate that is a habit they cannot really afford but are unable to give up. There are some who can stop smoking through will power alone, but many need some additional prop to help them through those early withdrawal symptoms.

It is those people that the proposal is aimed at helping, as part of the initiative which has seen Bradford designated as a Health Action Zone - one of several in the country to be given Government money to set up specialist help for people who want to stop smoking.

This is a part of the world with a high proportion of smokers and a high incidence of heart and lung disease. Apart from the cost to the health and welfare services, there is also the cost in human suffering that smoking-related illness causes.

So the money being spent on a week's supply of patches, gum or inhalers to help low-income people on the first stage of the road to stopping smoking is likely to be money well spent. It is to be hoped that there will be plenty of volunteers for this sensible initiative when it becomes available soon.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.