Stats and FAQs

ASH, an organisation dedicated to quitters state the following:-
Q. What's the best way to stop smoking?
When you are thinking about stopping, talk to an expert about what's involved ­ e.g. helplines, NHS
specialist centres, pharmacists or your GP. Find out whether one of the proven pharmaceutical treatments
like NRT or Zyban would be right for you ­ they can double your chance of success, and are both
available on NHS prescription. Get your friends and family involved as they can give you moral support.
Then pick a day ­ like No Smoking Day ­ and stick to it.

The following is a transcript of a conversation with Natasha, a NHS online advisor at their gosmokefree site.

Talking...
System:
You are now connected
Natasha:
Hi, you are through to Natasha, I am an NHS stop smoking advisor, how can I help you?
P-O-D:
Hi Natasha. Can you please tell me which method of stopping smoking, in statistical terms at least, has or is proving to be the most effective?
P-O-D:
The user has requested a copy of the session transcript
Natasha:
joining your local stop smoking service and using nicotine replacment therapy thats best suited to your individual needs is the best way to help stop smoking and sustain it
Natasha:
I see you are a non smoker are you trying to help someone else give up?
P-O-D:
Ok, thanks. I read a lot of articles which claim that either cold-turkey or hypnotherapy are supposed to be the most effective ways of stopping permanently. Do you have an opinion on this?
P-O-D:
Actually I recently stopped and did so through a local NHS stop-smoking clinic using NRT
Natasha:
we are not allowed to really give out personal opinions but in terms of hypnotherapy research is non conclusive and more about the individual. cold turkey is very hard and only 2% of the population manage it and find it hard to sustain long term. Thats fantastic how long have you been smoke free?
P-O-D:
Almost three weeks, this time. I am actually a teacher and would like to be able to advise young people appropriately. Also I am writing a blog and would like to be able to state some specific and accurate statistics, if possible.
Natasha:
I can give you a link to some of our literature which may be usefull also websites such as ASH can be beneficial for statistics and information and links to other areas
P-O-D:
Thank you, that would be great
Natasha:
The BBC website also has a large ammount of accurate details and statistics related to smoking
Natasha:
http://gosmokefree.nhs.uk/quit-tools
Natasha:
http://www.ash.org.uk/ash_za0a700j.htm
Natasha:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/
P-O-D:
That's very helpful. I will search there. There are lots of organisations I am slightly cautious of taking seriously who appear in google searches so this is much better for reaearch purposes
Natasha:
our own website also has a lot of information and usefull links as well
Natasha:
Not a problem if you or any of your students need any help always feel free to contact us for any help we can give
P-O-D:
Can you let me have the link please. I will certainly recommend this as a helpful resource to anyone it might help. Thanks very much
Natasha:
http://www.nhs.uk/gosmokefree
Natasha:
No problem if you need anything else You can call us on 0800 169 0 169 7am – 11pm 7 days a week or alternatively if you want to chat again we are available from 7am to 11pm 7 days a week via web chat. Helpline number and opening hours
P-O-D:
Yes thanks, just spotted it again. Thanks again and bye
Natasha:
Bye

There are as many ways as you like to avoid it but only two real ways to quit. Now or never!