Six practical, quick and simple steps you can take straight away to quit smoking
Talk to your GP
Many people don't realise that their GP can help them quit smoking. Your doctor can do a lot, such as enrolling you in a 'stop smoking' clinic and prescribing nicotine replacement therapy such as patches and gum, or stop smoking medication such as Champix.
Join your local stop smoking service
Did you know that you're up to four times more likely to quit successfully with the help of your local stop smoking service?
Services staffed by trained stop smoking advisers are available all over the country. You can join a local group which meets once a week or have one-to-one support if you prefer. You usually go for a few weeks and work towards a quit date.
Find online support
The Smokefree website has been designed to give a range of evidence-based support for you.
It's all available for free and can boost your chances of success whatever method you are using.
Have an emergency phone number to hand
Keep an emergency number, perhaps for your local stop smoking service or the national helpline.
Consider using a nicotine-containing product
Cigarettes are addictive, and self-control alone might not be enough for you to stop entirely.
Give yourself a better chance of success by using nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). This is available on prescription from your GP, from your local stop smoking service, or from a pharmacist.
You could also consider trying e-cigarettes. While they are not risk free, they are very much safer than cigarettes and can help people stop smoking.
Email an expert; ask an expert for advice, and read more about the stop smoking treatments
