Welcome
Welcome to our Spring edition to the Newcastle Stop Smoking+ Service Newsletter, packed with lots of information and activities to help you through your quit journey, including a success story, a healthy recipe, a special No Smoking Day feature, and a service update from our team.
Service Update
We are a team, dedicated to supporting those who want to be smokefree.
Our remote offer allows those living or working in Newcastle to access us easily and flexibly over the telephone. We offer an out of hours service for those who are not available during 9-5pm as well, and for those clients who prefer a face-to-face appointment, you can access an advisor via our partner agencies either HealthWorks or the Pharmacy network.
We would like to extend a huge thank you to the pharmacy network which had over a 50% increase in those accessing their service and subsequent quits throughout October to December 2023, which is great to hear, so well done!!
We continue to deliver a suite of FREE training programmes including Brief Advice and Intermediate Advisor Training, but we also offer bespoke training as well to help our local networks provide smoking interventions. If you would like to know more about the training courses we provide, please contact us at [email protected]
This year we have introduced a new and improved appointments system, so all new referrals will now be offered an assessment appointment within 2-5 days. The new system aims to increase service user satisfaction, whilst producing a more efficient and streamline service, so we can help more people.
And as of the 31st March, we will see the end to our 12 month vaping pilot. We’ve teamed up with Newcastle University, who will complete the final evaluation to review the data. The intention is for Newcastle University to report their findings later this year, so watch this space!
And finally, a big shout out to our fabulous Marketing Lead, Ali Truman who continues to create and post content to all our social media platforms. To support us, please subscribe to the following: FacebookX and Instagram
We would love to hear from our smokefree clients to share their stories and inspire others to quit too. If you would like to share your story, get in touch with her here: [email protected]
No Smoking Day
We’re linking with the national campaign for No Smoking Day and showing our support for the ‘Smoking Survivors’ event in Parliament lead by ASH this year.
They’re focusing on the profound health risks of smoking, and sharing stories from people who have quit to celebrate. It’s also No Smoking Day’s 40th birthday this year too - yay!
On either side of No Smoking Day, we’ll be having a stall to signpost our service with the support of the Tobacco Dependency Treatment Team at the hospitals. Come along and say hello!
- Tuesday 12th March - Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) 10am-2pm
- Thursday 14th March - Freeman Hospital 10am-2pm.
Don’t forget to check out our social media channels too - our team have put together some health benefits to stopping smoking videos to get people motivated about quitting, and sharing all the positive things you can gain by stopping smoking.
Watch them here: Facebook , X and Instagram
If you’d like to learn more about ASH and their work with tobacco, or the event click here.
Client success story
Jade quit smoking for her daughter and couldn’t be happier.
"I started smoking in high school, because everyone else was doing it and I thought it was something cool to do with my friends. When I started smoking, I initially bought 20 packet cigarettes, then when I left home, I started smoking tobacco"
"My motivations for quitting are my daughter. She’s 3 months old now, so I wanted to quit for her, so that it wouldn’t affect her health, but I also didn’t want her copying the smoking habit when she’s older either. Having some extra money as well, was a big motivation with having a new born.
I have tried to quit two other times in my life before, firstly when I was 15 years old, and I tried just by using will power alone. Then the second time, I used to visit my grandparents who lived abroad, and I didn’t want them knowing that I smoked, so I tried to quit again a few years later, this time using other nicotine replacement products, such as an inhalator, and patches, but I found it much harder that time. The inhalator was ok at first, but after a while it started to taste fishy. I also found that the patches irritated my skin, so I kept taking them off, and therefore I wasn’t getting the full benefit of the nicotine.
I heard about the Newcastle Stop Smoking+ Service at the hospital when I gave birth to my daughter, as the nurses asked if I wanted to quit and be referred, and I said yes.
My stop smoking advisor talked through all the options, and this time I decided to use a vape to help me quit. I found the vape worked best for me, as it gave me the hand-to-mouth action and the nicotine that my body was craving. I have now got my partner referred to the service as well, and he has also started using a vape.
I have already noticed the difference to my health, and my life has improved so much since stopping smoking. I don’t feel short of breath anymore, and my appetite and taste have improved too. I know my sense of smell has come back, as I can now smell when my baby’s nappy needs changing, and previously I could never smell the urine!
With the savings that I’ve made from stopping smoking, I now have a bit of extra cash as well, which is really useful when you have a baby, and all the extra money goes on her.
The most valuable part throughout this experience, was that the service offered the vape, as when I’ve tried to quit before this wasn’t an option. I feel my own determination and will power have helped me quit the most though, as you have to do it for yourself.
I would recommend the service if you’re thinking of quitting, but you also need your own will power and determination. The time has to be right for you too, and the service can help you make sure that you get the right product for your own individual needs.
I am happy to say that I have now been quit for 12 weeks and I feel great."
Recipe
Stop Smoking Advisor Phoebe:
"This is a really easy, few ingredients dish, just put all the ingredients in one pot and leave to cook! You can use the suggested vegetables of peas and spinach, or add your own whichever you prefer. Simply season with ingredients you've got in your cupboards, either honey, mustard and garlic.
It’s also a great dish to cook for family and friends, or cook a big batch to meal prep if you’re going to have a busy week!
For the full recipe click here: Honey & mustard chicken thighs with spring veg recipe | BBC Good Food"
Mental Health and Smoking
In April it’s Stress Awareness Month, and to support this we wanted to share that it’s still possible to stop smoking, even in these difficult moments.
When you’re suffering from a mental health condition, quitting smoking can feel like it’s managing your condition, but it actually increases your symptoms.
Lots of people say they feel free when they quit, because they're not always thinking about having a cigarette. In our experience people who quit have lower levels of depression, anxiety, and stress.
We’ve put together some answers to coping with stress and quitting smoking, so you can feel at ease on your smokefree journey.
How does smoking affect my mental health?
We often try to explain to a client that a mental/psychological connection can be made between smoking and stress relief, due to certain chemicals such as stress hormones, adrenaline/noradrenaline, or the ‘fight or flight’ chemicals becoming raised when stress happens, which is the body’s natural response to certain stressful situations.
You may experience shallower breathing or notice that you have an increased heart rate, but what many people don’t understand is that when these chemicals are present it causes nicotine levels to be metabolised faster, so withdrawal happens faster too, as nicotine/dopamine levels start to drop.
A smoker who associates smoking with stress relief may then go and have tobacco and within seconds nicotine and dopamine levels start to rise again. People often then create a connection that smoking helps with stress relief, but in fact, they are just fixing the withdrawal.
Can I take Nicotine Replacement Therapy with my meditation?
Nicotine replacement has been safely used for many years to help people stop smoking, that combined with some behavioural support gives you the best chance of quitting and remaining quit.
Smokers are already getting nicotine from their cigarettes/tobacco at a much higher rate than Nicotine replacement therapy. The stop smoking products are giving you clean nicotine, in a much safer and more therapeutic way.
We know that certain medication such as anti-psychotics are metabolised differently in the presence of nicotine even when using Nicotine Replacement Therapy. Therefore, when you have stopped smoking and discontinued your NRT after quitting, you should book a medication review with your doctor, just to see if any adjustments in medication are required.
How can I cope with stress and cravings?
- Plan how you might cope with stress before it occurs. You could practice breathing exercises, take a short walk, phone a friend or family member and keep a journal.
- Try mindfulness apps on YouTube or think of activities that you used to enjoy doing that maybe you feel you have not had the time to do lately and look at this as an option.
- Using Nicotine Replacement will give you a higher chance of success in quitting and help to alleviate any withdrawal symptoms.
- Make sure you're eating healthy foods and exercising regularly; this will help you feel good in yourself.
- Breathing techniques are good to use to manage mental health/stress during a quit attempt.
- Monitor your caffeine intake as tea and coffee can increase your urge to smoke due to your daily routines.
- Improve your sleep routines as well, as it will increase your will power when quitting.
We find that once you do stop smoking, you feel less stressed and more in-control of your stress without the added worry of trying to find time or ways to fit in smoking, which we know is more of a negative short-term solution.
If you are struggling, just know that you’re not alone, and we are here for emotional and behavioural support alongside your quit too! For more information visit our dealing with stress and quitting smoking page
Where can I find more help?
Get in touch
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