Everyone knows the bad health implications of smoking and to stop smoking is one of the best things you can do to improve your physical health. Stopping smoking though is not easy, tobacco is a very addictive substance and it can be physically hard to stop as well as being psychologically difficult.

• NHS Smoke Free
• Free Quit Kit
• Other Resources

The first step to being smoke free is to talk to your GP. Your doctor can do a lot to support you such as enrolling you in a ‘stop smoking’ clinic or prescribing nicotine patches / gum.

NHS Smoke Free

The NHS has stop smoking services staffed by trained advisers in Kent and Medway, these services happen in a range of venues at times to suit you. You can join a group where local people who want to stop smoking meet once a week or you can even have one-to-one support if you prefer. If you attend one of these groups you would usually go for a few weeks and work towards your quit smoking date.

Find out more about your local Stop Smoking services click on the relevant link below:

• Kent Smoke Free: www.kenthealthandwellbeing.nhs.uk/stop-smoking
• Medway Smoke Free: www.abettermedway.co.uk/smokefree.aspx

You are four times more likely to quit smoking for good if you use NHS Stop Smoking Services. If you are quitting keep your local NHS Stop Smoking Service number handy they are available from 7am - 11pm to help you get over your cravings. Or if you rather you can email an expert by clicking here or going to: nhs.uk/smokefree/help-and-advice/support

Back to top

Free ‘Quit Kit’

Pick up a free ‘Quit Kit‘ from a local pharmacy. The free kit is full of items to help you to be smoke free including a week’s free trial of nicotine patches, a wallchart to keep track of your progress as well as exercises to improve your willpower.

quitnow.smokefree.nhs.uk

NHS Choices also have also developed a smoking widget to help support you going smoke free which you can access below:

Downloadable quit smoking widget

Back to top

Other Resources:

Quit is an independent charity who are also there to help you quit smoking, you can call them on 0800 00 22 00 or email [email protected] for free, individual, same-day advice from trained counsellors. To find out more about Quit click here.

Back to top