Can I quit smoking by myself?
It is possible to quit smoking without support from the stop smoking service. However, research shows that you are four times more likely to quit smoking with treatment and support from a trained stop smoking advisor, who will help create a treatment plan and offer additional support to help to keep you on track.
Will I have to smoke my last cigarette before I see my advisor for the first time?
Stopping smoking is a journey and it is important to remember that each person’s journey will be different.
Your advisor will work with you to design your treatment plan, which will include agreeing a quit date, your medication options and coping strategies that will help. They will discuss all the options available with you.
Will the advisor shout if I smoke a cigarette?
It is important to remember that our stop smoking advisors and friendly and non-judgemental and are here to support you. If you have smoked a cigarette, speak to your advisor and they will be able to help get you back on track.
Will stop smoking medication take all the cravings away?
Stop smoking medications help reduce the severity of cravings and withdrawal symptoms if used correctly. Your advisor can talk you through the different medication options available and can provide these on prescription (or vouchers for Nicotine Replacement Therapy).
I want to use an e-cigarette, so I won’t be able to access support
Although we cannot supply e-cigarette or vapourisers, we can still provide behavioural support that can make a big difference to someone’s chances of remaining quit in the long term.
The trust’s stop smoking service for Stockton, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland is e-cigarette friendly proactively welcomes anyone who wants to use e-cigarettes as an aide to quit smoking, whether alongside licensed nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) or alone.
Can people who use e-cigarettes only and have stopped smoking tobacco products, still use the service?
At present, the stop smoking service is only available to people who smoke tobacco and who are using an e-cigarette or want to use an e-cigarette to help them quit tobacco.
There is suggested duration for e-cigarettes. As with nicotine replacements therapies (NRT), the stop smoking service encourage a 12 week treatment plan where dosage is reduced gradually and ultimately ceased. For those people who have already quit smoking using e-cigarettes and are wanting to stop vaping then we would reassure users that e-cigarettes are 95% safer than tobacco and advise that they reduce the dose at a pace that they feel comfortable.
Can e-cigarettes be used in combination with other stop smoking products?
E-cigarettes can be used in conjunction with other prescribed NRT as part of a combination therapy treatment plan.