Local stop smoking services are free, friendly and can massively boost your chances of quitting for good.
These services staffed by expert advisers provide a range of proven methods to help you quit.
They'll give you accurate information and advice, as well as professional support, during the first few months you stop smoking.
They also make it easy and affordable for you to getstop smoking treatments, such as:
- Varenicline (Champix)
- Bupropion (Zyban)
- nicotine replacement therapy, such as patches and gum
One-to-one and group stop smoking sessions
You'll normally be offered a one-to-one appointment with an adviser, but many areas also offer group and drop-in services as well.
Depending on where you live, the venue could be a local GP surgery, pharmacy, high-street shop, or even a mobile bus clinic.
Jennifer Percival, who trains stop smoking advisers, says that using both treatment and specialist support is proven to give you the best chance of stopping smoking.
"The majority of people who see an adviser will get through the first month after quitting without smoking a cigarette.
“总的来说，如果您使用停止吸烟治疗并获得NHS停止吸烟服务的支持，那么您可以停止吸烟的可能性高4倍。”她说。
How to contact a stop smoking adviser
Your GP can refer you, or you can phone your local stop smoking service to make an appointment with an adviser.
In England
- Find stop smoking services in England
- Call the free Smokefree National Helpline on 0300 123 1044
In Scotland
- Find stop smoking services in Scotland
- Call the free Smokeline on 0800 84 84 84
In Wales
- Find stop smoking services in Wales
- Call the free Help Me Quit helpline on 0800 085 2219
In Northern Ireland
- Find stop smoking services in NI
- Call a provider in the town or city where you live (telephone numbers can be found on theWANT2STOPwebsite)
What happens at the first stop smoking session?
At your first meeting with an adviser, you'll talk about why you smoke and why you want to quit, as well as any attempts you've made to quit in the past. You'll also be able to decide on a quit date.
You'll be offered a breath test, which shows the level of carbon monoxide – a poisonous gas in cigarette smoke – in your body.
"You don't need to be sure you want to quit or have a quit plan in mind before this meeting," says Jennifer.
"You can use the time to talk your situation through with the adviser without making a commitment. If you do decide to quit, the adviser can help you form an action plan and set a quit date, usually in a week or so."
停止吸烟辅助工具
At your first session, you'll also discuss NHS-endorsedstop smoking treatmentsavailable to help you.
These are nicotine replacement products (including patches, gum, lozenges, inhalators and mouth and nasal sprays) and the stop smoking tablets Champix (varenicline) and Zyban (bupropion).
"No one is forced to use treatment," says Jennifer, "but we'll encourage it because the results are better. We can help you decide which type of treatment is right for you and how to use it.
"In some cases, we can directly supply you with the treatment before you leave, or we can arrange for you to receive a prescription or a voucher for it.
"In the case of nicotine replacement therapy, it often works out at least a third cheaper than buying it from a pharmacy."
有证据表明，电子烟可以帮助人们停止吸烟。电子烟目前尚未作为药物可用，因此不能通过停止吸烟服务或在NHS上处方提供它们。
But if you want to use an e-cigarette to help you quit, you can still get advice and support from a stop smoking adviser to give you the best chance of success.
Read more aboutusing e-cigarettes to stop smoking.
詹妮弗（Jennifer）指出，NHS停止吸烟顾问仅提供基于证据的支持。“我们不会建议或建议催眠或针灸，因为没有足够的证据可以帮助您停止吸烟。”
Preventing relapse
通常，您将在戒烟后的头四个星期内每周与顾问进行面对面或电话联系，然后再持续8周。
At each meeting, you'll receive a supply of (or prescription for) a stop smoking treatment if you're using it, and have your carbon monoxide level measured.
您会有一个时间的紧急情况，可以帮助您应付渴望，并在挣扎中避免点燃。
"Going on the 12-week programme requires you to commit to not having a single puff of a cigarette," says Jennifer.
"Measuring carbon monoxide levels isn't about checking up on you. It's more to motivate you to stay smoke-free by showing how your body is already recovering."
Stop smoking advisers can also help you identify difficult situations when there may be a strong temptation to relapse and start smoking.
And they can help you come up with ways to cope with or avoid these situations.
"If you do relapse, we won't judge or nag you or take it personally. We're a friendly face that understands how difficult it is to quit, and we'll help you get back on track to becoming a non-smoker," says Jennifer.