Using licensed stop smoking medicines, including prescription tablets and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), can double the chances of successfully quitting. Anything that can strengthen the resolve to resist these urges or reduce their frequency or intensity can help in overcoming the dependence. For further information read ' What's in a cigarette?'ĭependence does not make it impossible to stop doing something it just means that there are powerful urges that must be overcome in order to do so. It’s important to remember that while nicotine is the addictive substance in cigarettes, it is the thousands of other chemicals in tobacco smoke that cause almost all of the harm. A report by the Royal College of Physicians concluded that nicotine is an addictive substance. A large part of this dependence arises from the way that nicotine is delivered rapidly to the brain with each inhalation. Many smokers who do continue smoking, do so not by choice, but because they are dependent.

Many smokers think that they will be more miserable when they stop but the evidence is that they will have better mental health and be happier once they stop smoking. After the age of 35-40 years, for every year of continued smoking, a person loses about 3 months of life expectancy. Every cigarette smoked damages the lungs in a way that may not show until later in life. Stopping smoking is always beneficial to heath and it is never too late to quit. 1 This fact sheet reviews the best ways to quit smoking and the health benefits that come along with it. In 2018, 58.4% of current smokers, aged 16+ in Great Britain, reported wanting to quit. If you’re reading this to help you quit smoking – well done! We hope that this resource is helpful.

Tips to stop smoking