SMOKING

It can be really hard to give up smoking once you have started, but there is help to do this and it will be worth it!

Tobacco contains nicotine, which is highly addictive, it works just like other addictive drugs. It makes the body and mind become used to having it. You start to need nicotine in order to feel normal.

What smoking can do to you

• Chemicals in cigarettes age and dry out your skin and cause wrinkles that can make you look 10 years older or more!
• Nicotine can cause anxiety symptoms or make them worse. Nicotine and mood are connected
• Smoke gets into your hair, your clothes, and pretty much everything you own, which means the stink of stale smoke follows you around.
• Your teeth and fingers turn yellow from the tar and nicotine in cigarettes
• Most people don’t want to spend time with an ashtray, and smoking can make your breath stink
• Smoking can damage fertility (the ability to have children)
• Find out how smoking impacts your health HERE, and all the wider costs that smoking has.

Want to QUIT?

Smoking can be difficult to give up, but the health benefits are huge. There are lots of different ways you can help yourself quit smoking and help to do this!

Good things …..

• You will be healthier and less at risk of getting a smoking related disease
• You will save lots of money
• Your teeth won’t get stained and your breath won’t smell bad
• You will feel less stressed out
• Exercising will be easier – you won’t get out of breath so easily
• You will be in control not the nicotine or the big tobacco companies

TOP TIPS TO HELP YOU QUIT : CLICK HERE

Many schools have a youth worker and /or a school nurse, you can make an appointment to speak with them about support to stop smoking. Some schools even have a ‘stop smoking group.’ Research shows that it is easier to stop with the support of others than trying to do it alone. You can also get support from your GP or local pharmacy.

Smokefree has trained smoking advisers who can help you find the best way for you to stop smoking. Call 0300 123 1044 for support, or find out about a local group you could go to. CLICK HERE to see more about this service.

Nicotine chewing gum, patches and sprays can reduce your craving for the nicotine in cigarettes and help you stop smoking. This means you aren’t breathing in tar and smoke, but because they contain nicotine, it’s really important to gradually reduce how much you have until you don’t crave it any more. You can get these with advice through your pharmacy

Vaping: E-cigarettes, unlike regular cigarettes, don’t have any tobacco in them. They have liquid nicotine inside, and the user ‘smokes’ or ‘vapes’ this nicotine. Vapors are also released from the device, making it look as if you are actually smoking.

Rights & responsibilities

It’s illegal:

• For anyone under 18 to buy or attempt to buy any tobacco products
• For shops to sell you cigarettes if you are under 18
• For an adult to buy you cigarettes if you are under 18. Find out more about what the law says about buying restricted age goods for people under the age of 18. (HERE)
• To smoke in a car if it has a passenger who is under the age of 18 and you can get a £100 fine for doing so
• To smoke in enclosed or partially enclosed public places in Scotland

If a police officer suspects that you are under 18 and in possession of cigarettes, tobacco or cigarette papers in a public place then they can confiscate them. If you don’t co-operate with the police and hand over the items or provide your name and address if required, you are committing an offence and you could face a fine.

The Backstory

Tobacco products kill more than 8 million people around the world every year. This means that the tobacco industry constantly needs to find new customers – which is why they spend billions on marketing and advertising.

More information

Talk to Frank offers friendly, confidential advice on tobacco & other drugs CLICK HERE.

The Mix provides real life stories and advice about quitting smoking. CLICK HERE

ASH (Action on Smoking and Health) provides resources and information around smoking  CLICK HERE.

NHS Inform: Information on stopping smoking CLICK HERE.