New and innovative stop smoking support this Stoptober

Digital tools to help the 70,000 smokers in Surrey quit for good

Stoptober is an annual public health campaign that encourages smokers to quit smoking during the month of October. It’s a great opportunity to raise awareness of the stop smoking support available – and in Surrey it’s now easier than ever to access it.

Take the first step on your journey with chat bot support

A stop smoking chat bot (app) is now available on the One You Surrey stop smoking service website. The interactive text-style advice conversation helps people to understand their readiness to quit smoking, as well as bust some smoking myths, answer questions residents may have about quitting smoking, and signpost to free support services. People can then receive free 121 in person or remote support plus nicotine replacement therapies.

Smoke Free app

The No1 quit smoking app Smoke Free is also now available with free pro features for Surrey residents and employees. It offers:

• Free 24/7 support with qualified advisers
• Free Nicotine Replacement Therapies (NRT) such as patches, gums, lozenges and vapes posted to your door
• Free access to the pro features of the app. This includes daily missions, live health improvement milestones and a craving analysis to log cravings and identify triggers
• Over 200 Surrey residents have downloaded the app since April.

Jago, 54 from Ashford said: “I had to give up after 40 years due to a Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) diagnosis and the Smoke Free app has been invaluable. From providing me with tips, advice and encouragement to sending me the NRT I need, I can’t fault it. It would have been so much harder without them!”

Smoking impacts everyone and quitting together is the single best thing someone can do for their health. Sometimes our loved ones, peers, colleagues and customers need a bit of moral support to make that first step because quitting isn’t easy, but knowing they aren’t alone makes it a whole lot easier.

Visit Healthy Surrey for more information about the various support available.