15/10/2025
“I didn’t think I could do it, but the support made all the difference.”
Brian had smoked since he was 15, often smoking up to 20 roll-ups a day. He had tried patches, gum, lozenges and Champix, but nothing stuck. With worsening lung problems, he turned to the Council’s stop smoking service.
At first he hesitated to use his v**e kit, but with regular support calls, Brian took the leap. His breathing improved, his sleep got better, and even his NHS check-ups showed progress.
Smoking costs society £21.3bn every year but quitting brings health benefits almost immediately. After just 8 hours, carbon monoxide in the blood drops by half. For Brian, those early changes built the momentum to keep going.
The Council can support your quit attempt too, with Swap to Stop kits, advisor support, and the Smoke Free app. Find out more on our website by searching ‘stop smoking service’.