Services offered

One-to-one Support

If you prefer one-to-one support, the service has over 120 trained advisers located throughout Croydon who offer help tailored to your needs and access to discounted Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) products. Other stop smoking medications are available on prescription from your doctor and can be used during your quit attempt with our advisers.

All our advisers offer a planned programme of up to 6 weekly sessions, designed to help and support you to stop smoking for good. The sessions are free, relaxed and informal and the advisers are there to help and support you.

Giving up smoking will improve your health and prevent serious illness.

Stopping smoking can improve your wealth too. At today’s prices, someone smoking 20 cigarettes a day will spend over £38,000 over the next 20 years.

The good news is that as soon as you stop smoking, the benefits start.

For more advice contact a smoking cessation adviser in Croydon link to section or call us free on 0800 019 8570.

For further information and advice call us free on 0800 019 8570

Group Support

Giving up smoking as part of a group can be a really good way to get some extra support, and boost your confidence and motivation.
 
Groups usually have between 5 and 15 people, with a specially trained adviser, and run for about 5 weeks. Some groups will have a set start date, so you all attend the first session together. Others are run on a “rolling” basis, where you can begin attending as soon as you are ready. Often, the people within a group will decide on a group quit date together but, as with individual sessions, you are free to choose your own quit date.
 
Typically, during the first session everyone will get to know each other a little before discussing quit dates and the various treatment options available (i.e. Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT), Zyban and Champix). These can be discussed as a group, but time will also be available for you to talk to the adviser one-to-one.
 
During subsequent sessions, group members can share tips on how to overcome cravings and withdrawal symptoms, as well as congratulate and motivate each other on their continuing success.

To book onto a group or for further advice and support simply call us free on 0800 019 8570

Workplace Stop Smoking Service

The national ban on smoking came into place in the summer of 2007. This means that all workplaces now have to be completely smoke free after this time. Stressful jobs or "still smoking" colleagues going on breaks can weaken our resolve to stay smoke-free ourselves.

We are able to help staff by:

• Providing on site stop smoking support for those who want to stop.
• Discussing other options with staff who do not want to stop e.g. cutting down to quit or using Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) to get through the working day.

Nicotine nasal spray 
The spray delivers a swift and effective dose of nicotine through the lining of your nose.

Nicotine mouth spray

The spray delivers a swift and effective dose of nicotine through the lining of your cheeks.”

All support provided is free.

To find out more about the Workplace Stop Smoking Service call 0800 019 8570 or call 020 274 6438. 

Smoking and pregnancy

Giving up smoking in pregnancy is the best thing that you can do for you and your baby’s health.
 
The pregnant mother and baby share a blood supply. This means that as well as getting a share of all the nutrients from the food and drink the mother consumes, the baby also gets a share of the carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke, whether smoked by the mother or those around her.
 
Smoking whilst pregnant can lead to:

• Placenta previa (low-lying placenta).
• Placenta abruption (the placenta starts to come away from the inside of the womb wall).
• Premature rupture of the membranes (resulting in premature labour).

Increased risk of miscarriage.
 
Babies born to women who smoke weigh approximately 200g/7oz less than those born to non-smokers and will have smaller organs and poorer lung function. Low birth weight is one of the leading causes of infant illness and death. Research has also shown that babies born to women who smoke 15 or more cigarettes a day while pregnant are twice as likely to be admitted into hospital in the first 8 months of life.
 
In the long-term, children born to smokers have double the risk of asthma, asthmatic bronchitis. They also have an increased likelihood of being a smoker themselves and are at greater risk of experiencing behavioural problems.
 
We know that women want to do the best for their children and new guidelines mean that we can now, if requested, provide a voucher for nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) to help take the edge off cravings and reduce withdrawal symptoms: NRT is safe for use by pregnant and breastfeeding women, as the evidence shows that continuing to smoke is far more harmful to both the mother and her baby.
 
If you or someone you know is pregnant and would like help to stop smoking, there is an antenatal clinic at Croydon University Hospital, for an appointment call 020 8401 3000 ext: 5906 or call 077 7046 8664.  

Nicotine Replacement Therapy

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is a therapeutic medicine that contains medicated nicotine only, unlike cigarette smoke which contains over 4000 chemicals, including tar and carbon monoxide.

How nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) works
NRT eases withdrawal symptoms while allowing the smoker to get used to not smoking as the dose is gradually reduced.

It is also important to know that nicotine does not cause cancer. NRT is suitable for use by young people aged 12 and over, as well as for pregnant or breastfeeding women.

NRT is generally safe for anyone to use and is certainly much safer than smoking. However, if you are pregnant or suffering from a heart condition you should speak to your GP or stop smoking advisor.
 
NRT works by:

• Reducing the severity of withdrawal symptoms.
• Reducing the desire to smoke (craving).
• Delaying weight gain.
• Reducing relapse back to smoking.
• Providing a coping behaviour.

Nicotine gum
When you chew nicotine gum, the nicotine is absorbed through the lining of your mouth.

Nicotine patches
Nicotine patches work well for most regular smokers and can be worn round the clock (24 hour patches) or just during the day (16 hour patches).

Microtabs
These are small tablets containing nicotine which dissolve quickly under your tongue.

Lozenges
Lozenges are sucked slowly to release the nicotine and take about 20-30 minutes to dissolve.

Inhalators
Inhalators look like a plastic cigarette. The inhalator releases nicotine vapour which gets absorbed through your mouth and throat.

If you miss the 'hand to mouth' aspect of smoking, these may suit you.

Nicotine nasal spray 
The spray delivers a swift and effective dose of nicotine through the lining of your nose.

Other stop smoking medicines

Zyban

Zyban is as effective as NRT and is also effective in reducing major withdrawal symptoms.

Although the exact mechanisms are not known, Zyban is thought to work on the withdrawal and reward pathways by moderating the levels of certain chemicals in the brain so that cravings and withdrawal symptoms are controlled.

On average this treatment should be followed for 8 weeks. As with many other medications, Zyban may not be suitable for everyone.

In general, Zyban is not recommended if you:

• Are under 18 years of age
• Are pregnant or breastfeeding
• Are hypersensitive/allergic to any of the ingredients
• Have serious liver disease
• Have a history of depression or seizures
• Have diabetes treated with hypoglycaemics or insulin

More than 1 in 10 people taking Zyban suffer from insomnia.

Other reported side effects include tremors, concentration disturbance, headache, dizziness, depression, agitation and anxiety; however these may be due to nicotine withdrawal rather than Zyban itself.

Please note that stop smoking advisors are not able to prescribe Zyban.

If, after discussing the various treatment options available with your stop smoking advisor you decide that Zyban is the best option for you, an appointment with your GP will be required.

If you would like more information about Zyban please contact the stop smoking service on 0800 019 8570.

Champix

Champix is usually only considered if the client has relapsed after two separate attempts on NRT or Zyban.

Champix works in two ways: it prevents nicotine from bonding with nicotine receptors in the brain; and reduces withdrawal symptoms.

On average this treatment should be followed for 12 weeks. As with many other medications, Champix may not suitable for everyone.

In general, Champix is not recommended if you:

• Are under 18 of years
• Are pregnant or breastfeeding
• Are hypersensitive/allergic to any of the ingredients
• Have a history of psychiatric illness, including depression
• Have renal impairment

The most common side effect is nausea, affecting approximately 25% of people using this medication. This is generally quite mild and occurs in the early stages of treatment.

Other reported side effects include abnormal dreams, insomnia, headache, sleepiness, dizziness, increased appetite, dry mouth, agitation and anxiety. However, these may be due to nicotine withdrawal, rather than Champix.

Please note that stop smoking advisors are not able to prescribe Champix.

If, after discussing the various treatment options available with your stop smoking advisor you decide that Champix is the best option for you, an appointment with your GP will be required.If you would like more information about Champix, please contact the Stop Smoking Service on 0800 019 8570.