NHS Support for Quitters

The UK Government this month announced plans to make nicotine replacement therapy more widely available and subsidise the provision of nicotine patches through the National Health Service.

Nicotine gum, patches, inhalers and lozenges are to be made more available in corner shops, newsagents and supermarkets.

Specialists believe the high cost of nicotine patches have previously affected their success. Richard Parish of the Health Development Agency stated "by removing, or heavily reducing the financial cost of NRT, one of the main barriers to giving up smoking is now removed".

A separate report this month claims over 25% of UK smokers light up within 5 minutes of waking, earlier than most other European countries.

Health group ASH (Action on Smoking and Health) also released a report this month rubbishing the belief that cutting down is an effective way to quit smoking.

Research suggests smoking fewer or lower tar cigarettes has little effect because smokers alter the way they smoke to compensate. Quitting completely is apparently the only effective way.

"It's a bit like advising an alcoholic to cut down intake by switching form Wine to Whisky," claims ASH director Clive Bates. "It's just a different way of consuming the same drug".

Friday, 30 March 2001