It's a year since smokers in the UK last sparked up in their workplace, pub or
bingo hall. And although 165,000 have managed to bin the cigs since the ban,
about one in five of us is still puffing away, according to official
figures. However, a recent study offers hope for the thousands who are
finding it difficult to free themselves from nicotine's tight grip. The
message is simple - don't go it alone, join a team of quitters.
According to research published earlier this year in the New England Journal
of Medicine, your chances of giving up are higher if you do it as part of a
group. In other words, although smoking is addictive, quitting is
contagious.
The 30-year study of 12,067 people, by researchers at Harvard Medical School,
reveals that the chance of someone continuing to smoke decreases by more
than a third when a friend quits. “The culture of individualism is so strong
that we sometimes forget how powerfully social networks influence our
health,” says Richard Suzman, a researcher involved in the study.
However, you don't have to be part of a large group for the effect to work its
magic; the study also reveals that when a spouse quits, the chances of his
or her partner continuing to smoke falls by 67 per cent. So if you want to
ditch the cigs for good, find some smoking chums and buddy-up. If you don't
have enough smokers to form a group, talk to your GP about the NHS stop
smoking groups in your area. No time? Then see if your employer runs any
groups. Help is at hand from the charity Quit; it will help to set up and
manage stop smoking groups in workplaces.
Contact details
To find NHS stop smoking services in your area: gosmokefree.nhs.uk,
0800 0224332. For the Quit stop smoking service visit quit.org.uk
, 0800 002200
The Phoenix Artist Club Group
Underneath the Phoenix Theatre in the heart of London's West End, the Phoenix
Artist Club has long been a regular haunt of actors, dancers, and
theatre-goers.
But in addition to its flamboyant clientele, the
club - built in the 1930s as rehearsal rooms for the adjoining theatre - was
known as a smokers' bar and on most nights was filled with an atmospheric
fog.
“It was extremely smoky down here. You weren't allowed to smoke in theatres or
backstage, so immediately after a show the cast and crew would be in here
smoking,” says Maurice Huggett, the director of the club for the past eight
years.
The smoking ban was not welcomed by owner and punters alike until Huggett, who
smoked 60 a day, came up with the idea to form a fraternity group of
quitters, “a little fellowship”, as he calls it.
He devised a system: if anyone in the group wanted a cigarette, he or she had
to call a fellow quitter whose job was to “talk them down”. The group
started with a circle of five, but had 50 members at its height.
The ban also has given the club a new ceiling. “I had 40 years of nicotine to
remove,” says Huggett. “In the process I revealed a ceiling that nobody knew
existed. It was beautifully tiled, with patterns of the Tudor rose and
Scottish thistle, in gold, green and red.”
Chris Choi, Television journalist
Choi, a Phoenix regular, used to smoke about 20 a day and had tried to give up
many times.
“With all the money I've wasted on cigarettes, I've also wasted a lot on
quitting. I've got all the books and tapes, plus I went to hypnotherapy
sessions. None of it worked.
“But then Maurice suggested this support network. If we fancied a cigarette,
we had to ring each other and talk each other out of it. I used to have a
collection of the warnings on the front of the fag packets so that I could
them read out when Maurice called.
“In return he would tell me that I stank, that my clothes stank, and that my
boss would fire me because my complexion looked appalling.”
The key to the group's success, Choi says, is the moral support that a group
provides.
“You felt that you were letting the others down if you were the first to slip
and there was the embarrassment factor of having to admit it.”
Although family and colleagues can help, Choi believes that friends have a
special ability to help you to quit. “People are usually most honest with
their friends. In fact, this whole process has made all of our friendships
stronger. But it wouldn't work with non-smokers as they would be preachy.”
He believes that being able to call one another was an effective way to keep
them all on the straight and narrow. “You can get the support that you need
more or less immediately, via a phone call or texts.If you fall you off the
wagon, the group members say: don't worry, pick yourself up and carry on.”
He says would-be quitters are at their most susceptible when they're relaxing
with alcohol, another reason why it's important to use a network of friends.
“You're on to a winner on all kinds of levels.”
Jo Waggott, Bank manager
Jo, originally from York, but now living in London, used to smoke up to 20
cigarettes a day. Huggett was her catalyst for joining the group.
“I'd tried a number of methods before - patches, hypnotherapy - but I ended up
smoking with the patches on.”
She says that the camaraderie spurred her on.“I didn't want to let the others
down. Maurice was the biggest smoker, and I thought, crikey, if he can do
it, we have a chance.”
Etienne Vermaak, City worker
Etienne, a South African, has been living in London for ten years. He has been
going to the Phoenix for two years, and is good friends with Chris Choi. He
smoked 10 to 20 cigarettes a day and says that the group has helped him to
quit.
“I use the guys as a support network. It's definitely useful giving up with
friends who are going through the same process.”
Della Trimbell, 40, jewellery maker, North Somerset
Trimbell's attempts to curb her 20-a-day habit always ended in failure.
However, three months ago she discovered the No Smoking Day online forum, a
site that allows people to read and post messages to other quitters, in the
hope of supporting and helping each other.
This time she managed to stop, something she credits largely to the forum.
“I'd be lost without it. It generates such a feeling of team spirit.
“It was out of action briefly a couple of weeks ago and I found that really
hard as I didn't have my quitting buddies with me.”
The forum also has helped her through the rough patches. “Last weekend I would
have mugged someone for a cigarette. I posted a message saying ‘Help, I'm
having the worst time of my life!' Within seconds, like bees to a honeypot,
people were posting messages of support and encouragement.”
In fact, Trimbell believes that she may have replaced her nicotine habit with
an addiction to the forum. “I use it every day. Especially if I'm keeping
tabs on someone who has blipped. We're all very honest about blips.
“I would thoroughly recommend it.”
nosmokingday.org.uk/forum/
What works? By Dr Toby Murcott
Pharmaceuticals
There's good evidence that a number of drugs are effective in helping you to
give up smoking. The two broad approaches are antidepressants such as Zyban,
and the anti-obesity drug rimonabant. Must be taken under medical
supervision.
Acupuncture
Research does not dismiss it, but there is no ringing endorsement.
Support
All types of support - from groups to a doctor's advice - help. It's not clear
from the studies whether any version is significantly more effective than
any other; all seem to ease the pain.
Hypnotherapy
Some studies hint that it is effective, but a review of all the research turns
up no firm evidence either way.
Nicotine replacement therapy
Whether it's gum or patches, there's good evidence that topping up nicotine
levels helps you to kick the habit.
STOP SMOKING WITH THE TIMES
Join our Health Club Stop Smoking group and get support, help and motivation
from fellow quitters.
Sign up to the Health Club (timesonline.co.uk/healthclub), and then go to
http://stopsmoking.groups.timeshealth.co.uk
I have used hypnotherapy which has been a great sucess, i purchased a Quit Imp from hypnoimp online all it cost me was £19.99 i can listen to the sessions on the train on my way to work or late at night if i am having a rare craving.
Julie, London, UK
Most smokers who have tried to stop will tell you that there really is no 'easy way' to stop smoking. Effective medications, behavioural support and commitment are all needed - something that NHS Stop Smoking Services expertly provide. Don't waste your money and time on anything else.
Andy McEwen, London, UK
I gave up in April last year after going to an Allen Carr session. It completely worked for me - despite being a natural sceptic of these things. Havent smoked since! I cant recommend it enough.
David George , Brighton, UK
Read Allen Carrs 'Easy Way to Quit Smiking'. This is by far the the best way to quit and stay quitted - YOU DO NOT NEED WILLPOWER TO QUIT - FORGET NICORETTE AND NRT PRODUCTS - TAKE IT FROM AN EX-SMOKER - JUST READ THE BOOK, IT REALLY WORKS!!
Simon Isaacs, London, UK
Here in Japan, a pack of fags (keep your voice down, love) is some 20-25% of UK retail. However, people get with the programme; when Authority says, "You don't smoke", they don't smoke. So if Madame smokes (tobacco products), don't prolong the agony, just dump her.
Andrew Milner, Karuizawa, Japan