Stop Smoking
The service aims to:
- Support smokers who are assessed as motivated to quit;
- Provide behavioural support and supply NRT, where suitable, to smokers weekly for up to 12 weeks;
- Complete DoH NI monitoring forms to enable evaluation and monitoring of the service.
Why it helps
Local stop smoking services are free, friendly and make you up to four times more likely to quit for good.
These services are staffed by trained expert advisers and provide a range of proven methods to help you quit.
They’ll give you accurate information and advice, as well as professional support, during the first few months after you stop smoking. They also make it easy and affordable for you to get stop smoking treatments.
Most people will have weekly face-to-face or phone contact with your adviser for the first four weeks after you quit smoking, then less frequently for a further eight weeks.
These regular meetings can help you to cope with any challenges you experience while quitting and help you to avoid relapse.
What to expect
This is a free support service, tailored to your needs. You don’t need to quit smoking immediately, but you will start making steps towards it and we will give you as many appointments as you need.
At your first meeting with your pharmacy advisor, you’ll talk about why you smoke and why you want to quit, as well as any attempts you’ve made to quit in the past. You’ll also be able to decide on a quit date.
You’ll be offered a breath test, which shows the level of carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas in cigarette smoke, in your body.
You will be given information and support on:
- how to prepare to stop
- setting a quitting date
- nicotine replacement therapy
- coping with withdrawal
Licensed nicotine replacement therapy is available free of charge if you register with a specialist stop smoking service based in a pharmacy. The pharmacy staff will offer advice and support and help you choose the type of NRT that will suit you best.