Advice on becoming a non-smoker

There has never been a better time to become a non-smoker - the Government NHS Plan, published in July 2001, contains a commitment to provide support to people who want to give up smoking. This is largely done by supporting GP surgeries in running smoking action clubs, providing 24 hour helplines (see useful addresses and telephone numbers below) and the provision of nicotine replacement therapies (NRT - e.g. nicotine patches and gum) on prescription, as well as from the pharmacy.

The principles apply equally to those people who are considering becoming non-smokers for the first time, as well as to those who have not yet completely succeeded in becoming nonsmokers and may need a gentle reminder as to how their ultimate goal can be achieved.

Smoking has two immediate effects on your digestive system. Firstly, it reduces the supply of blood and oxygen to the digestive organs, and secondly, it stimulates the production of stomach acid. This makes you more vulnerable to the development of acidrelated disorders, particularly ulcers. Stopping smoking will help your digestive system heal and stay healed.

Of course there are other important reasons for stopping smoking. As the number one cause of preventable disease and death, smoking is an activity that everybody would do well to avoid.

The loose-leaf card is intended as a personalised handy reference to help you to first of all become a non-smoker and then to remain a non-smoker. It summarises the 4 main steps in an easy to follow format and is designed so that you can personalise it to suit your individual situation.

Four steps to becoming and remaining a non-smoke

Step 1: The commitment
Step 2: Preparing to stop
Step 3: Stopping (Day 1/early days)
Step 4: Remaining a non-smoker