Smoking

Did you know giving up smoking significantly increase your chances of living a longer healthier lifestyle, even if you have smoked for 40 years!

It is never to late to think about stopping, it will make a drastic improvement to your lifestyle and health in ways you might not expect.

Benefits of quitting 

  • After 20 minutes your blood pressure and pulse return to normal
  • After 24 hours your lungs start to clear 
  • After two days your body is nicotine-free and your sense of taste and smell improve 
  • After three days you can breathe more easily, and your energy increases.

Very Brief Intervention

Ask

Have you ever thought of stopping or tried to stop before?

The average smoker could save £140 each month (£1680 per year) by quitting, what would you do with that extra money?

Remember to personalise the benefits.  Is the person saving for a holiday, or a new home? Do they have children or grandchildren they would like to runaround with?

Assist

State that the best way of stopping smoking is with a combination of medication and specialist support

  • Studies show that you are four times more likely to quit smoking if you do it through a specialist support service.
  • Services are free and they provide one to one support. 
  • Local stop smoking services staffed by expert advisers provide a range of proven methods to help you quit.
  • Its totally free

Do you think you would benefit from the services your local stop smoking service can offer?

 

Act

NATIONAL SUPPORT

  • Call the free Smokefree National Helpline to speak to a trained, expert adviser on 0300 123 1044. All lines are open Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm and Saturday and Sunday 11am to 4pm*
  • Better Health quit smoking website which includes information about the benefits of quitting, advice on various quitting aids and a local stop smoking service lookup tool 
  • NHS Quit Smoking App (Apple) or NHS Quit Smoking App (google/android) - a 28-day programme that provides practical support, encouragement, and tailored clinical advice on your mobile/tablet. Includes a savings calculator so you can see how much money you're saving.
  • Get a free Personal Quit Plan Quitting smoking is easier with the right support. Give up for 28 days, and you're 5 times more likely to quit for good – get your plan now!
  • You can also speak to your doctor, pharmacy team or local Stop Smoking Service for expert advice on stop smoking medicines.

SELF CARE

  • Download the NHS Quit Smoking app from apple or google/android
  • Get further information from the National Health Service www.nhs.uk/quit
  • Consider using e-cigarettes to stop smoking
  • Get daily email support - If you would like some extra support, you can sign up for 28 days of stop smoking advice and tips – delivered straight to your inbox.  Sign up for email support
  • Find your online community - You do not have to do it alone – join others going through the same thing in a friendly and supportive environment.  Join the Quit Smoking Support Group on Facebook

Emphasise that quitting will the best thing they will ever do and the NHS Smokefree service can provide the friendly and helpful support they need to quit for good

Support Services - Children and Young People

Children and Young People can contact the 'The Mix which is a leading support service that can help young people to take on any challenge they are facing - from mental health to money, from homelessness to finding a job, from break-ups to drugs. 

Local Support and Contact Details