Saturday 6th January 2018


19 Health, Fitness & Nutrition • New Year New You


Phone support offers a convenient and anonymous way to quit


Call to


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Cigarette smoking in London could be virtually wiped out by 2030. Tough measures like plain packaging, price rises and mass public health campaigns have contributed to a general downturn in the popularity of tobacco


declining at a rate of three percentage points every four years, which would put prevalence below 5% by 2030. For the 1.3 million Londoners who


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currently smoke, the widening range of options means there’s never been a better time to stop; but that can also be a challenge. “The sheer number of


ccording to official figures from the Annual Population Survey, smoking prev- alence in London was 15.2% in 2016, and


or what might be the best nicotine replacement therapy for them to help cope with cravings.” To help people in London get information and


This month, Stop Smoking


London has launched a


options available can be daunting for some people,” says Fraser Serle, London’s smoking cessation programme manager. “People know that smoking is bad for their health. It’s the biggest cause of prevent- able death in England, so making the commitment to give up is a positive step, but then the next question is ‘how’ and ‘what will work best for me’ and this is where a lot of people get stuck. “They don’t know what their GP can do to help, or what their local stop smoking service does,


support around options, medicines and services available, a telephone helpline and website have been launched by the London Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) both called Stop Smoking London. Specialist advisers work


new campaign called ‘Reach


for your phone’. The intention is to advise smokers that in moments when they get the urge to smoke, they should call the stop smoking helpline instead for some support.


with smokers on a one-to- one basis to understand their habit and lifestyle, discuss appropriate support and medicines, and direct them to services in their local area. For people who live in one of London’s 30 participating boroughs, the telephone adviser will work with them to set a quit date and devise a plan to support it, then


provide follow-up calls to track progress and coaching to keep quitters motivated. Fraser said: “We know that people lead busy


lives and want a convenient option. Some people don’t want clinic-based support from a specialist or to attend timed support groups because of work and life commitments. For time-poor Londoners, telephone support fits well into their lifestyles. People who use our service tell us they like the anonymity of it. Some people feel ashamed about their habit and think they’ll be judged, so the option of speaking to someone and not seeing them helps callers open up and be more honest about their habit.” In addition to recommending treatments and


therapies, advisers talk through a range of strat- egies with quitters to help them think positively and keep on track. Fraser added: “Setting a quit date, making a plan


and selecting the appropriate treatment make up the first step. Our advisers will then help people keep to their quit date by talking through tech- niques to beat cravings; simple things like how to keep your mouth and hands busy, or writing lists of the benefits of quitting. Some people use physical props, like pictures of their children, to motivate them. Others will take themselves away from situations where they used to smoke or find a replacement activity, like walking or stretching. Our advisers have lots of tips like this to help people achieve their quit date.” For people who want to stop smoking, several


different treatments are available from shops, pharmacies and on prescription to help them


Side effects of NRT can include skin irritation


Some people feel ashamed about their habit and think they’ll be judged, so the option of speaking to someone and not seeing them helps


beat their addiction and reduce the misery of withdrawal symptoms. The most suitable treatment will depend on


personal preference, age, whether women are pregnant or breastfeeding, and any existing medical conditions. Evidence shows that treatments are most


effective if used alongside support from an NHS stop smoking service. The treatments currently available include:


Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) The main reason that people smoke is because they’re addicted to nicotine. NRT is medication that provides a low level of


nicotine, without the tar, carbon monoxide and other poisonous chemicals that are present in tobacco smoke. It can help reduce unpleasant withdrawal


effects, such as bad moods and cravings. It’s available as skin patches, chewing gum,


inhalators (which look like plastic cigarettes), tablets, oral strips and lozenges, or as a nasal and mouth spray. Treatment with NRT usually lasts eight to 12


weeks, before people gradually reduce the dose and eventually stop.


when using patches, irritation of nose, throat or eyes when using a nasal spray, difficulty sleeping, an upset stomach, dizziness and headaches.


E-cigarettes An e-cigarette is an electronic device that delivers nicotine in a vapour. This allows nico- tine to be inhaled without most of the harmful effects of smoking, as the vapour contains no tar or carbon monoxide. Research has found that e-cigarettes can


help people give up smoking, so quitters may want to try them rather than medication. As with other approaches, they’re most effective if used with support from an NHS stop smoking service.


Varenicline (Champix) Varenicline (brand name Champix) is a medi- cation that works in two ways. It reduces crav- ings for nicotine like NRT, but it also blocks the rewarding and reinforcing effects of smoking. Evidence suggests it’s the most effective medi-


cation for helping people stop smoking. Varenicline is only available on prescription,


so people usually need to see their GP or contact an NHS stop smoking service to get it. It’s taken as one to two tablets a day. People


should start taking it a week or two before they try to quit. A course of treatment usually lasts around 12


weeks, but it can be continued for a little longer if necessary. Side effects of Varenicline can include feeling


and being sick, difficulty sleeping (insomnia), sometimes with vivid dreams, dry mouth, constipation or diarrhoea, headaches, drowsi- ness and dizziness.


The Stop Smoking London helpline is 0300 123 1044. Smokers can call the local-rate number seven days a week from Monday to Friday between 9am and 8pm, and on Saturday and Sunday between 11am and 4pm. For more information about the range of support available, visit stopsmokinglondon.org.uk


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