Other sources of advice and information
There are many other ways of getting the advice and information you’ll need to succeed…
Your GP
When you’re looking to access the help and support that’s available, your doctor is a great place to start.
Some GP practices offer extra stop smoking support for patients who want to quit, usually from the practice nurse. Ask at your practice about what is available.
Your doctor will also be able to advise you on where to find your local free stop smoking service.
Your pharmacist
Your pharmacist is a great person to talk about the various forms of NRT and prescription drugs that are available. Pharmacists can advise you on how to use these properly and which might be most suitable.
But remember you can talk to a local pharmacist about any aspect of stopping smoking, not just the products that they can dispense.
Stop Smoking Forum
The No Smoking Day Stop Smoking Forum allows you to chat to other people who are also stopping smoking. You can learn about their tips for quitting, why they want to stop smoking, the benefits of giving up smoking and what they think about the help they have used.
It’s also a space for you to have your say and to share your thoughts and experiences with others quitters.
Events
On and around No Smoking Day, thousands of volunteers who are trained in helping people to stop smoking will be out and about in their local areas.
You can go along to one of these events to learn more about quitting smoking and about the help that is available locally.
Find out about the events in your area here.
Books
There are many books on the market, many of which can help support the other forms of quitting outlined elsewhere on this site, and some that make bolder claims. Some of the most popular books currently available are listed below.
No Smoking Day does not endorse any particular books or products.
You Can Stop Smoking, Jennifer Percival (Virgin Books)
First published in 2007 and subtitled “Your personalised plan to give up for good”, this is written by the director of the Royal College of Nursing’s Tobacco Education project and is based on the clinically proven methods used by NHS stop smoking services.Allen Carr's Easy Way to Stop Smoking, Allen Carr (Penguin)
First published in 1985, this book has been a top-seller among stop smoking titles ever since. Carr argues smokers are brainwashed into believing that smoking is a genuine pleasure, and are unwilling to admit to themselves all the horrible consequences of smoking. Carr is strongly against the use of NRT and recommends dealing with “cravings” by thinking of quitting as a positive experience.Free yourself from smoking: a 3-point plan to kill nicotine addiction, Kristina Ivings (Kyle Cathie Ltd)
First published in 2006. Kristina Ivings is a clinical psychologist who ran stop smoking groups for the NHS. She addresses three factors of smoking; physical addiction, psychological dependence and habit. The book includes practical tips and information on quitting, overcoming cravings, and preventing relapse.Overcoming your Smoking Habit, David F Marks (Robinson)
The technique in this book is based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which has been clinically proven to be effective in changing negative habits and thoughts. A one-week programme aims to make the reader aware of his or her smoking triggers and the thoughts and behaviours that lead to smoking, so that by the end of the week cravings have disappeared.Get a life: Choker to non-smoker, Nicki Defago (Hodder Arnold)
100 steps to being “puff-free”! Includes tips, exercises and suggestions for activities for each day. Defago discusses the use of NRT and other means of support including NHS smoking cessation services.The Nicotine Trick, Neil Casey (Metro Publishing)
Casey argues smoking creates a false sense of calm and relief of tension, while actually increasing stress and anxiety. He goes on to outline a three-step tactic to use as often as necessary before the desire to smoke disappears completely.Stop Smoking, Gillian Bridge (Foulsham)
A self-help therapy approach, aiming to help smokers understand why they started smoking and change daily routines to break links with tobacco use. Questionnaires help explore feelings about smoking.