Support in quitting

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Distance support
One on one
Groupwork

There are many ways to quit smoking and nearly everyone who smokes makes at least a couple of attempts to quit, usually on their own, before they are successful. We know that you are more likely to successfully quit using some kind of support system than if you just ‘go it alone’. However it’s important to remember that people do quit when they go it alone, using grit and determination.

If you would like support in quitting there are three different methods available to you that will increase the likelihood that you quit. Which method you use is completely up to you, and different factors such as your work patterns, your social life and what you feel comfortable with will make some methods more attractive to you than others.

Distance support

This system uses telephone or email (or a combination of the two) to keep you in contact with a quit advisor. It’s one step up from quitting on your own. Information about how to quit, the different options there are for NRT and drugs will be explained to you and weekly contacts are made to help support your quit. You can also call or email if you have any questions arising from your quit attempt or you are in need of support because you are having a difficult time keeping motivated. Figures indicate that you are 2 to 3 times more likely to quit using distance support than you are if you go it alone.

If you would like to try this method of quitting, send an email to advisor@gmfa.org.uk

One on one

This system uses weekly appointments with you and a stop smoking advisor, to help keep you informed and motivated in your quit attempt. You’ll be taken through all of the information you need to help you quit and be given lots of support and motivation if you hit a difficult patch. It’s likely that you will be given weekly CO monitored readings, where you blow into a special monitor to show the amount of carbon monoxide present in your blood, to help you see the health benefits of your quit and to help check on your progress. Figures indicate that you are 4 to 5 times more likely to quit using a one to one support system than you are if you ‘go it alone’.

GMFA doesn’t offer face to face support at the present time. If you believe this is the best option for you, follow this link to find a local NHS quit adviser.

Groupwork

This is a 7 week long system, where you meet for up to 2 hours on one night every week for the 7 weeks. The first three weeks are spent giving you information about smoking, quitting and the NRT and drugs available. Everyone on the group quits smoking together on the third week, and the following 4 weeks sessions both help you through the nicotine cravings (which last 4 weeks) and help you with plenty of hints, tips and exercises to help prevent you ‘relapsing’ and going back to smoking. One of the most important aspects of this system is the group support and mutual understanding that there is between all the men going through the course together. You will be CO monitored when you initially attend and are still smoking, and from the third week onwards. Figures indicate that you are 10 times more likely to quit attending a stop smoking group than you are if you ‘go it alone’.

GMFA has provided free stop smoking groupwork for gay men in London since 2001, and has a current success rate of just under 70% (the NHS success rate is just less than 50%). You can book a place on a GMFA stop smoking course online at www.gmfa.org.uk/stopsmoking or by calling 020 7738 3712.

If you want to stop smoking but feel that now is not the right time for you, enter your contact details and we’ll send you details of future courses when we run them. You can unsubscribe from the list at any time.