Stop smoking services
Stop smoking services offer free local help to anyone who’s ready to quit. Stop smoking services can be found all over the UK and evidence shows smokers that use these services are four times more likely to succeed in quitting. Research shows one in two people who use their local service is still not smoking four weeks later.
Stop smoking services usually offer group or one-to-one support, with quitters attending the service for a course lasting up to six weeks. This includes an initial session to work out a personal approach to quitting, and a quit date.
The specialist advisors also help decide if nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) or a prescription drug (Zyban or Champix) could help.
The six week group course is usually structured like this:
- Week 1 Learn about the programme, meet with other group members and discuss the best ways to stop.
- Week 2 Find out more about the stop smoking aids, such as patches and gum, prepare for the quit date.
- Week 3 Quit Day! Get supplies of stop smoking aids and understand how they work.Use group support to share tips and tactics.
- Weeks 4 - 6 Share quitting experiences and get group support. Keep each other on track for success
- Week 7 Celebrate staying smoke-free and discuss tactics to stay stopped for good.
If a group is not for you, many services also offer one-to-one support that can help you through your quit attempt.