All You Need to Know

• Why should I stop smoking?

  Quitting smoking will reduce the risk of you getting diseases such as cancer, lung disease and heart disease.

  Your physical health will improve because you are not flooding your body with dangerous chemicals.

  You will start to notice some of the benefits within a few days and you will start to breathe more easily and have more energy. Your lungs will start to work better, so you should cough and wheeze less than when you smoked.

  After a few weeks, your mental health can improve because giving up smoking can reduce anxiety, depression and stress.

  Smoking is expensive, so quitting will save you money. It will also help people around you because inhaling secondhand smoke can be dangerous.

• How can I stop smoking?

  Stopping smoking is not easy, but there is plenty of help available. Speak to your GP or an expert from Smokefree Norfolk and ask them to suggest the best options for you.

  This might include Nicotine Replacement Therapies (NRT), to help reduce the cravings you might experience if you stop smoking.

  There are several types of NRT available:

  • Patches
  • Chewing gum
  • Inhalators (which look like plastic cigarettes)
  • Tablets and lozenges
  • Nasal and mouth sprays.

• Is vaping safe?

  Vapes are electronic devices which allow you to inhale nicotine - the chemical which makes cigarettes addictive.

  While vaping is less dangerous to your health than smoking, it is not completely harmless.

  Young people are more sensitive to the effects of vaping and in the UK it is illegal to sell nicotine vaping products to anyone under 18 or for adults to buy them on behalf of under-18s.

  If you are over 18 and need to buy vapes, you should always get them from a trusted retailer, such as a specialist vape shop, a pharmacy or supermarket. They will sell products that meet strict UK standards - products which don't meet these standards could contain harmful substances.

  You cannot get vapes on prescription or from your GP.

• I'm feeling pressured to smoke because my friends do it

  Deciding whether you want to smoke is your decision, not anyone else's. You should never do something that could be seriously harmful to you just because you want to fit in or feel part of a group.

  Be confident and firm and say you don't want to smoke - your friends should respect your decision. If you're struggling with the pressure to try smoking, speak to an adult you trust and ask for their advice.