24 February 2020

Everyone’s different. So it’s unsurprising that people take up smoking for different reasons and decide to quit smoking for different reasons too.

Some of the reasons people stop smoking are to save money, improve their health or reduce their risk of smoking related diseases. 

Just as your decision to stop smoking needs to be your choice, so does the way that you quit smoking.

Choosing the right way for you will increase your chances of quitting for good. You might be thinking of using free nicotine replacement therapies or medications to reduce cravings, such as Champix, or looking into e-cigarettes.

Whatever you decide, it helps to plan ahead and let us help you to Quit Your Way.

That’s why for No Smoking Day on Wednesday 11 March we are encouraging those people who are thinking about stopping smoking to get in touch with our local Quit Your Way service who will be able to help by:

  • talking through all the options available to you
  • helping you plan to stop in a way that suits you
  • offering support when you're trying to stop

Gordon Elliot, Wellbeing Co-ordinator at NHS Borders said: “The single best thing a smoker can do to improve their health is to stop smoking. There are lots of benefits to stopping smoking such as sleeping better, reducing the aging affects, improving your sense of smell and taste, saving money and protecting those around you from the dangers of second-hand smoke.

Dr Tim Patterson, Joint Director of Public Health at NHS Borders said:  “You are four times more likely to stop smoking and stay stopped with help and support from an NHS stop smoking service. We know how difficult it can be for people trying to quit and we understand that everyone needs different kinds of support, so ‘Quit Your Way – with our support’ offers a range of options to suit the individual throughout the various stages of the process.”

Borders Quit Your Way service is delivered by the Wellbeing Service. Find out more by contacting the Wellbeing Service on 01896 824502 or 0800 84 84 84 or click here.

Alternatively you can pop into your local pharmacy for free advice and support.