Health · England
Getting help to stop smoking
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You can ask for help.
The plan should work for you.
Think about your own reasons
What would you like to change?
Tell the adviser what is difficult.
Find a service
Ask your GP or pharmacist.
You can contact a stop-smoking service yourself.
Ask for support you understand
You may want pictures or more time.
You can ask someone you trust to help.
Discuss treatments
Patches, gum or medicines may help.
A professional should check what suits you.
Check any costs
Advice and support are free.
Ask whether you need to pay for a treatment.
Plan for difficult times
A craving is a strong urge to smoke.
Ask the adviser how to cope with it.
Understand vaping
Vaping can help adults who smoke to quit.
It is not harmless.
Children and non-smokers should not start.
Work towards no cigarettes
Ask for help to stop cigarettes completely.
Later, ask for support to stop vaping too.
Tell your prescriber
Some medicines are affected when smoking changes.
Do not change doses yourself.
Ask again after a setback
Tell the adviser if you smoke again.
You can make another plan.
Keep in touch
Agree your next appointment.
Know who will help you between appointments.
What you can do next
Ask about the choices and costs.
Tell your health team if your smoking changes.
Find stop-smoking support Web pageThis link opens another website.
It may use harder words.
More useful links
- NHS: local stop-smoking support Web page
Free advice, ways to contact a service and treatment options. Ask about any treatment charges.
- NHS: vaping to stop smoking Web page
Balanced information for adults who smoke. Vaping is not harmless or for children and non-smokers.
- NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service: smoking and medicines Web page
Professional information to discuss with a prescriber. Do not use it to change doses yourself.
- NHS England: reasonable adjustments Web page
Changes that can help you use health services and understand information.
These links open other websites.
They may use harder words.
Help to stop smoking and understand vaping — Easy Read
Find accessible quitting support, discuss treatment and make a plan that you choose.
England · Adults · Young people and pregnancy need appropriate specialist advice
Start with your own reasons
You may want to stop for your health, money, comfort or another reason that matters to you. Talk about what smoking does for you and what feels difficult about changing it. You can ask questions even if you have not chosen a quit date. Support should be respectful and should help you make an informed choice.
Find a stop-smoking adviser
You can contact a local stop-smoking service yourself or ask your GP, pharmacist or health visitor to refer you. NHS information links to services in England. Ask what appointments are available and how to contact the adviser between them. Some areas offer individual, group, telephone or online support.
Make the support accessible
Explain what helps: pictures, shorter instructions, more time, reminders or a chosen supporter. Ask the adviser to check that their explanation makes sense to you. If groups or telephone appointments are difficult, ask about another format. Agree what information may be shared with supporters rather than assuming they should receive everything.
Discuss treatment options
Nicotine replacement therapy, often called NRT, includes products such as patches or gum. Other stop-smoking medicines are available on prescription. An adviser, pharmacist or prescriber can explain the options and check what is suitable with your health and other medicines. Tell them about pregnancy or possible pregnancy. Do not use someone else’s prescription.
Ask about costs and practical use
Local stop-smoking advice and support are free. Ask whether a particular treatment is supplied free, has a prescription charge or must be bought. Check how you will get repeat supplies and use the product correctly. Explain problems opening packets, swallowing tablets, using a device or remembering instructions so the plan can be adapted.
Plan for cravings and routines
A craving is a strong urge to smoke. Discuss when it is hardest, such as a familiar break or a stressful situation. Ask the adviser about treatment and practical ways to cope. Choose manageable alternatives that you enjoy, with the assistance you want. Agree how supporters can encourage you without nagging, threats or punishment.
Understand vaping as a quitting option
Nicotine vaping can help adults stop smoking and is less harmful than continuing to smoke. It is not harmless, and long-term effects are still being studied. Children and non-smokers should not start vaping. If you smoke and want to consider it, ask a stop-smoking adviser about suitable support and safe use.
Aim to stop cigarettes completely
Continuing to smoke alongside vaping does not give the full benefits of switching. Discuss a plan to stop cigarettes completely, then work towards stopping vaping when you are ready without returning to smoking. Ask for help if cravings or the device are difficult to manage. Do not assume every service provides a free vape.
Tell your prescriber about smoking changes
Stopping, reducing or restarting smoking can change the effects of some medicines. Tell your prescriber before a planned change, or promptly if it has already happened, including during a hospital stay. Clozapine needs urgent specialist advice when smoking changes because medicine levels can be affected seriously. Do not adjust doses yourself; ask the team to arrange any monitoring.
Keep support respectful
A learning disability does not give supporters automatic authority to decide whether an adult smokes or uses treatment. Discuss health information, practical support and any genuine safety concerns with the person. Agree shared-space arrangements with others. Decisions about care should support understanding and choice; confiscation or humiliation is not a quitting programme.
Keep going after setbacks
If you smoke again, tell the adviser and discuss what happened. Another attempt can use what you have learned. Ask whether treatment, appointment format or everyday support needs changing. Notice progress that matters to you. Keep the next contact and the person who will help clear, rather than leaving you to manage difficulties alone.
Words you could use
“I want advice about smoking. Please explain my options in a way I understand, check my medicines and help me make my own plan.”
More useful links
- NHS: local stop-smoking support Web page
Free advice, ways to contact a service and treatment options. Ask about any treatment charges.
- NHS: vaping to stop smoking Web page
Balanced information for adults who smoke. Vaping is not harmless or for children and non-smokers.
- NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service: smoking and medicines Web page
Professional information to discuss with a prescriber. Do not use it to change doses yourself.
- NHS England: reasonable adjustments Web page
Changes that can help you use health services and understand information.
These links open other websites.
They may use harder words.
Where the information comes from
Links checked 7 November 2026.
These links open other websites.
They may use harder words.
- NHS: stop-smoking services Web page
Free support, referral routes, appointment formats and treatments.
- NHS Better Health: vaping to quit smoking Web page
Relative harm, adults who smoke, avoiding use by children/non-smokers and stopping cigarettes fully.
- NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service: smoking interactions Web page
Medicine review after smoking changes, particularly clozapine and hospital admission.
- NHS England: reasonable adjustments Web page
Accessible services and communication.
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