There are one million fewer smokers in England now than there were in 2014, according to Public Health England. Last year, nearly 400,000 smokers in England quit successfully, which is the equivalent to 1,069 smokers each day.
Despite new smokers starting and ex-smokers relapsing, smoking prevalence in the South East now stands at 13.7% in comparison to 20% 10 years ago.
Of the 967,011 smokers in the South East, 6 in 10 want to quit but most try to quit using willpower alone – the least effective method.
If you’re struggling to quit smoking, why not join the mass quit attempt, Stoptober, next month?
Angela Baker, deputy director for health & wellbeing at Public Health England South East, said: “Stoptober is a perfect time for smokers to try and give up smoking – however many times they may have tried in the past.
“The annual campaign provides the perfect opportunity for family, friends and colleagues to work together towards quitting smoking for good.
“Now more than ever before there are a host of quit smoking aids and free support services available.
“I would encourage anyone thinking of quitting to visit our website, make a plan and commit to quit with Stoptober. Evidence shows you are more likely to quit with support from a local stop smoking service than if you try to go it alone.”
The most successful quit attempts use a combination of effective stop smoking support methods. The best way to quit is with expert help from local stop smoking services together with stop smoking aids.
In 2017-18, half (51%) of smokers who got this package of support managed to quit, and among those who used an e-cigarette in their quit attempt, the success rate was up to 63%.
New to this year, Public Health England’s Stoptober campaign is offering a free online ‘ Personal Quit Plan ‘ to help smokers find the right stop smoking support for them.
The online plan asks a number of questions and provides smokers with a suggested combination of support based on their level of tobacco dependency and what quitting support they have used previously.
Jeremy Kyle, TV presenter, said: “I was a 20 a day smoker for most of my life and am proud to say I quit smoking earlier this year.
I’ve tried many times in the past to quit but nothing really worked for me. This year, however, the time was right and I wanted to do it for me.
“With the death of my mother, having cancer myself and becoming a granddad this year, I was determined and I’m so happy I’m now smokefree.
“I’m not going to pretend it is easy, but I knew my time smoking was up.”
Search ‘ Stoptober’ to use the Personal Quit Plan and to find out about the range of free and proven support available to help you start your quitting journey on the 1st October.
Why use stop smoking aids?
For most people, it isn’t easy to quit smoking using willpower alone. Stop smoking aids can help you manage nicotine cravings and other tobacco withdrawal symptoms. There’s good evidence to show that using stop smoking aids increases people’s chances of success, especially when combined with expert face-to-face support from a local Stop Smoking Service.
There are 3 types:
- Prescription tablets (Champix and Zyban)
- Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products, such as patches, inhalers and gum
- E-cigarette / vape
Choosing the best stop smoking aids for you
Often, stop smoking aids are most effective when you combine them, which will make giving up much easier to do. Even if you’ve tried them before, it’s worth looking at the different options to choose from and giving something else a go. Your GP, pharmacist or local Stop Smoking Service will be able to give you any advice you need.
Find out more about how each stop smoking aid works and where you can get them.
Prescription tablets
Champix (Varenicline) – Tablets that you start taking up to 2 weeks before you stop smoking, and for around 12 weeks in total.
Pros
- Reduces your craving for a cigarette
- Reduces the effects you feel if you have a cigarette
Cons
- Won’t be prescribed if you’re pregnant, have some pre-existing conditions or are under 18 years old
Zyban (Bupropion) – Tablets that you start taking up to 2 weeks before you stop smoking, and for around 8 weeks in total.
Pros
- Reduces your craving for a cigarette
Cons
- Won’t be prescribed if you’re pregnant, have some pre-existing conditions or are under 18 years old
Nicotine replacement therapy products
Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products work by replacing some of the nicotine you used to get from smoking cigarettes. NRT products can be bought over the counter from your local pharmacy and can also be prescribed by your GP or local Stop Smoking Service.
To get the best results, it’s a good idea to use a combination of NRT products. A nicotine patch releases nicotine slowly into your system to help keep you on a constant level, while a fast-acting product such as an inhaler, spray or lozenge helps you deal with any immediate cravings. It’s recommended that NRT products are used for about 12 weeks, or as long as needed to prevent you from smoking again.
Isn’t nicotine harmful?
While nicotine is the addictive substance in cigarettes, it’s relatively harmless. In fact, almost all of the damage caused by smoking comes from the thousands of other chemicals in tobacco smoke, many of which are toxic. NRT has been widely used for many years to help people stop smoking and is a safe form of treatment.
How much NRT should I use?
Use as much NRT as you need to help you manage your cravings. If you want to reduce your nicotine intake, you can reduce it gradually. But don’t rush it – and don’t forget, the most important thing is to avoid starting smoking again.
Nicotine patches
Patches can be worn round the clock (24-hour patches) or just while you’re awake (16-hour patches). They also come in different strengths. If you’re a heavier smoker you should start with a higher strength.
Pros
- Release nicotine directly into the bloodstream through your skin to relieve cravings and withdrawal symptoms
- 24-hour patches are helpful for those who have strong cravings early morning
- Can be easily and discreetly worn beneath clothing
Cons
- May cause skin irritation for some people
- 24-hour patches can disturb sleep for some
Nicotine inhaler
An inhaler releases nicotine vapour that is absorbed through your mouth and throat.
Pros
- Mimics the ‘hand to mouth’ habit of smoking
- Works very quickly compared to gum and lozenges
- Can be used every time you feel strong cravings
Cons
- Not very discreet
Nicotine nasal spray
- A nasal spray delivers nicotine through the lining of the nose. It is the strongest form of NRT and works by releasing one spray into each nostril.
Pros
- Provides a swift and effective nicotine dose
- Each dose gives an amount of nicotine equivalent to one cigarette
- The fastest way that nicotine can enter the bloodstream
- Mimics the rush you get from smoking more closely than other NRT product
Cons
- Not suitable for everyone
- May cause side effects such as nose and throat irritation, coughing and watering eyes
Nicotine lozenges
Nicotine lozenges dissolve slowly (up to 30 minutes) in your mouth. Suck the lozenge until it becomes strong or hot to release the nicotine, then rest inside your cheek. Once the taste fades, suck again to release more nicotine.
Pros
- Provide short bursts of nicotine to relieve cravings and withdrawal symptoms
Cons
- Not suitable if you have mouth ulcers
- Some may dislike the taste
Nicotine gum
Pieces of gum that you chew, then rest on the inside of your cheek while nicotine is absorbed through the lining of your mouth.
Pros
- Available in 2mg and 4mg strengths (people who smoke 20-plus cigarettes a day require the stronger dosage)
Short bursts of nicotine combat cravings and withdrawal symptoms
Cons
- Some may dislike the taste
- Some find it hard getting used to ‘parking’ gum in their mouths
Nicotine microtab
A small tablet containing nicotine that dissolves quickly under your tongue.
Pros
- More discreet than other oral aids as you don’t chew or suck
Cons
- Delivers a relatively small amount of nicotine
E-cigarette / vape
An e-cigarette (sometimes called an e-cig or a vape) allows you to inhale nicotine in a vapour rather than smoke.
They aren’t risk-free but they carry a small fraction of the risk of cigarettes – experts estimate they are at least 95% less harmful. E-cigarettes can be bought in vape shops, some pharmacies and other outlets.
E-cigarettes, also known as vapes, are one of the more recent stop smoking aids to become available and they can help you quit smoking for good.
An estimated 2.9 million adults in Great Britain use an e-cigarette, known as vaping. They can be particularly effective as a stop smoking aid when combined with expert face-to-face support.
What are e-cigarettes / vapes?
Whatever you know them as, an e-cigarette, e-cig or vape, are devices that allow you to inhale nicotine in a vapour rather than in the tobacco smoke you would inhale from cigarettes.
How does vaping work?
E-cigarettes heat a solution, called e-liquid, which typically contains nicotine, propylene glycol and/or vegetable glycerine, and flavourings. They don’t burn tobacco or produce tar or carbon monoxide – 2 of the most damaging elements in tobacco smoke, which you inhale from cigarettes.
Are e-cigarettes / vapes safer than cigarettes?
E-cigarettes aren’t completely risk-free, but experts estimate that vaping is at least 95% less harmful than smoking cigarettes. E-cigarette vapour contains some potentially harmful chemicals also found in tobacco smoke, but at much lower levels.
Many people think nicotine is very harmful to health. In fact, although it is addictive, nicotine is relatively harmless – it’s the thousands of other chemicals in tobacco smoke that cause almost all the harm from smoking.
You can find out more about e-cigarettes and find answers to questions, including safety for users and bystanders, using e-cigarettes while pregnant and how e-cigs are regulated in the UK, on Smokefree.
What are the different types?
- Cigalikes look similar to tobacco cigarettes, tend to have small batteries and can be disposable or rechargeable.
Vape pens are shaped like a pen or small tube and have a tank to store e-liquid and replaceable coils. The batteries tend to last longer than cigalike batteries and are rechargeable. - Pod systems are compact rechargeable devices, often shaped like a USB stick or a pebble and use e-liquid capsules. They are simple to use and easy to maintain.
- Mods come in a range of shapes and sizes but are generally the largest e-cigarette devices. They have a refillable tank, longer-lasting rechargeable batteries and variable power.
How do I decide which is right for me?
A rechargeable e-cigarette with a refillable tank delivers nicotine faster than a disposable model and is likely to give you a better chance of quitting smoking. So, if you’re a heavier smoker, vape pens, pod systems and mods are the best to try. But if you’re a light smoker, a cigalike could work for you too. As e-liquids are available with different nicotine strengths, you’ll need to choose the right one to satisfy your needs.
If you’d like help choosing the right e-cig and liquid, a specialist vape shop can give you lots of advice, or you can talk to your local Stop Smoking Service.
Can I get e-cigarettes from my GP?
E-cigarettes aren’t currently available from the NHS on prescription, so you can’t get one from your GP. You can buy them from specialist vape shops, some pharmacies and other retailers or on the internet.
Will they really help me quit smoking?
Thousands of people in England have already stopped smoking with the help of an e-cigarette. Plus, those who combine an e-cigarette with help from their local Stop Smoking Service have a high chance of success. In 2017-18, two-thirds of smokers who did so managed to stop smoking.
E-cigarettes can help you manage your nicotine cravings. To get the most out of it, make sure you’re using it as much as you need to and with the right strength of nicotine in your e-liquid. You won’t get the full benefit from vaping unless you stop smoking cigarettes completely.
If you have any more questions about quitting smoking with an e-cigarette, your local Stop Smoking Service or specialist vape shop will be able to offer help and advice.
Taking the next step
Now you know how stop smoking aids can help you quit, the next step is to decide which option is best for you. There’s lots of expert help available to help you choose – chat to your GP, pharmacist or your local Stop Smoking Service.