According to the World Health Organisation, there are about 1.3 billion tobacco users worldwide. While this number is not as high as it was when smoking was at the peak of its popularity, it is still a considerable amount. As a result, smoking’s prevalence remains a significant issue, the consequences of which affect millions of people.
But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Nowadays, many people decide to drop this harmful habit and quit smoking for good. Among smoking cessation methods they turn to, one of the most effective are services offered by local organisations. And as the demand for these grows, the supply is set to follow suit.
The National Health Service, the National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training, the Action on Smoking and Health, and numerous other organisations help people living in the UK quit smoking. If you are a resident of the United Kingdom and would like to learn more about the places where you can seek help to break your smoking habit once and for all, read on below:
The National Health Service (NHS)
The National Health Service (NHS) is a publicly funded system in the UK. It was created in 1948, and since then, it has developed into an all-embracing network of healthcare providers. In addition to hospitals and other medical facilities, it includes dentists, opticians, and numerous other institutions.
Among the services provided by the NHS are free stop smoking services for everyone. These include individual support, group therapy, and telephone helplines. According to vapekit.co.uk, such help combined with other smoking cessation methods, such as nicotine replacement therapy and e-cigarettes, offer tremendous results.
If you would like to learn more about the NHS stop smoking service and how you can use it to quit smoking, visit their website. You will find there stop smoking tips as well as phone numbers to make an appointment with an adviser.
The National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training (NCSCT)
The National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training (NCSCT) is a national organisation offering comprehensive support to people who want to quit smoking or have already done so. The organisation was established back in 2009 by Professor Robert West, Professor Susan Michie and Dr Andy McEwen.
Since then, the NCSCT has transformed into a community interest company, becoming part-funded by a contract with Public Health England. It provides free services for anyone who seeks assistance with their smoking cessation plan — people who smoke, their family members and partners, friends and colleagues, as well as health professionals working with these groups of people.
As part of its efforts to help people achieve their goals, the NCSCT has developed several certification programmes, including the NCSCT Training Standard — the official benchmark of quality training for stop smoking service personnel. It includes an assessment of core knowledge and practice skills, secondhand smoke training, and a speciality module on smoking cessation and mental health.
All programs offered by the NCSCT are designed by experts who know what problems smokers face when trying to stop this harmful habit. They are delivered via online platforms, which are easy to use and user-friendly.
The Action on Smoking and Health (ASH)
The Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) is another important organisation that offers free stop smoking support for those looking for ways to quit this harmful habit. It was founded back in 1971 by the Royal College of Physicians. Nowadays, it has grown into an influential anti-tobacco organisation with many supporters from both inside and outside Great Britain.
The organisation offers comprehensive support through a whole range of activities, including public education campaigns, lobbying government agencies, research papers, and so on. Its most notable success is creating and adopting a smoking ban in England, which came into force on 1 July 2007.
Other successful campaigns created by the ASH include:
- “Smoking Kills” — a white paper on tobacco published in 1998, outlining a comprehensive strategy to tackle the issue.
- “Beyond Smoking Kills” — published in 2008, this review elaborates on the progress made to control the tobacco industry.
- “Smoking Still Kills” — a 2015 report that calls for a new government tobacco control strategy, proposing new targets and recommendations for said strategy.
The ASH also works towards improving health professionals’ knowledge of smoking cessation by providing them with the most up-to-date information on issues, such as quitting techniques or new drugs developed specifically for those trying to shake off this bad habit.
In recognition of its efforts, the Action on Smoking and Health was awarded a WHO World No Tobacco Day award in May 2011. It remains one of the most influential anti-tobacco organisations, continuing its mission of spreading awareness about the dangers of tobacco products and smoking.
Conclusion
There are many reasons why you might be considering quitting smoking. Besides health benefits, you could be convinced by financial or social advantages. Fortunately, there is a whole industry devoted to helping people kick this habit.
As you can see, numerous places offer help to quit smoking. If you are a smoker and want to quit, we hope that the organisations mentioned above will come in handy. This list is by no means complete, but it will surely provide you with some useful information. Now, all you need to do is identify the most suitable organisation and contact them. The sooner you start, the better!
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