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No Smoking Day is just over a week away (10th March 2004) so here is some of the real help you can get when you are stopping
smoking. Services and products change from time to time so call your helpline or check www.nosmokingday.org.uk for up-to-date news. Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)
This comes in different forms: patches, gums, nasal sprays, tablets, lozenges and inhalators. It weans you off nicotine while you break your smoking habits. A course lasts 3 months. Used correctly it can double your chance of stopping. If you are under 18, pregnant or have a heart condition, ask your doctor before using NRT. You can buy NRT products from pharmacists, who will advise on how to use them properly, and help you decide which form is best for you. You can get NRT on NHS prescription if your doctor or stop-smoking clinic feels it is right for you. Bupropion (Trade name Zyban®)
This drug treatment changes your brain's response to nicotine It makes smoking less pleasurable, and reduces craving while you work on your smoking habits. It is best used with professional support, and your doctor has to prescribe it. Like NRT, it can double your chance of stopping. You can get the 2-month course on NHS prescription. It is not recommended for pregnant women, under 18s, people with seizure risk, eating disorders, or in combination with certain other medicines - your doctor will advise. NHS Stop-smoking centres
These FREE centres operate all over the UK and they've proven successful for thousands. The course includes an initial consultation where you work out the best way to stop for you and agree a date to quit. The specialist will help you decide if a prescription would help; and figure out what type would work best. Follow-up consultations help you stay on the path during the toughest times. The course can be either in groups or one-to-one, depending on the centre you visit. Phone the helpline to find your nearest centre. Helplines
These offer confidential access to specialist counsellors who can talk you through the process of stopping and help with any problems you might have with giving up. If you just want some information to get you started, you can ask for that. Most lines will ask some caller for personal information for research or call back purposes - you can give your details if you wish. The NHS and other agencies including the charity Quit provide specialist helplines. The main numbers are below or you can see a full set on www.nosmokingday.org.uk. Internet
If you would like to chat to others about stopping smoking, then an internet site might help. Along with information about stopping, many sites offer chat rooms. See www.nosmokingday.org.uk for some great links like www.sickofsmoking.com. Alternative therapies
Many therapists (hypnotists, acupuncturists etc) advertise services for smokers who want to stop. While some people find them helpful, they are not tested in the same way as drug therapies like NRT and Bupropion. Some therapies can help boost your confidence or help you relax when quitting, but they are not magic cures. Reputable therapists will explain how their treatments will help - you'll still need to deal with the nicotine addiction and habit aspects of smoking in the usual way. You usually have to pay for these therapies. Some useful contact numbers: England and Wales: NHS Smokers’ Helpline: 0800 169 0 169 or their website
Scotland: Smokeline: 0800 84 84 84
Northern Ireland: Smokers’ Quitline: 02890 663 281
Quitline: 0800 00 22 00
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