Smoking

Smoking is a difficult habit to stop. Tobacco contains nicotine which is a very addictive chemical. As with other addictive drugs, your body soon gets used to the nicotine in cigarettes. Quickly you will feel the urge to smoke just to feel normal.

 
 

Why is smoking so bad for you?

Check out this video from FuseSchool - Global Education to hear about the dangers of smoking cigarettes.

 

Smoking and culture

 

The reasons why someone may choose to start smoking will be different for everyone but there are some common issues that may make it more likely that a person may be more likely to take up smoking cigarettes.

  • Living with other people who smoke

  • easy access to cigarettes

  • hanging round with other people who smoke

  • depictions of smoking on TV, film and other media.

It is estimated that young people who live with parents and siblings who smoke are three times more likely to become smokers themselves.

Managing pressure from peers

 

  • Try to prepare yourself. Think about how you will respond if you are offered drugs so you will know what to say.

  • Surround yourself with people who you trust. Friends should understand and respect you for saying no. Think about who is offering you the cigarettes and why. If they are your friends they should understand and respect you for saying no. People who you don't know may also expect something in return.

  • Say ‘no’ firmly but clearly and without making a big deal about it. If they try to persuade you, don’t’ feel like you have to change your mind.

    If you think you would find it hard to say no to your friends if you were offered cigarettes by them. Take a step back and think about whether it is time to find some new people to hang around with.

Why is nicotine so addictive?

Nicotine is a highly addictive substance that our brains are hard wired to respond to. This video from Quit Victoria explains how nicotine works on the brain.

 

What are counterfeit cigarettes?

 

Counterfeit cigarettes are cigarettes that are produced and sold illegally on the black market. The issue with counterfeit cigarettes is not just that buying and selling them is illegal and could land you in trouble but as they are produced outside of regulation the are no guarantees about the quality of the product and it is not unusual that substances regularly found in the these cigarettes pose a increase the potential danger to your health.

It’s important to know that cigarettes are one of the only substances sold that when used as guided will lead to health problems and in some cases leads to serious illness and death.

Counterfeit cigarettes increase the likelihood of negative health effects related to smoking.

 
 

What happens when you stop smoking?

This video from The Infographics Show gives an indepth look at how your body responds to you stopping smoking.

 

Further Support

 

ABL Health

Call Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm

Telephone: 0151 541 5656

Or text ABL to 60777 (texts are free - you do not need credit)

ABL Website

A Better Life Wirral is a smoking cessation service run by ABL Health, as part of the service we manage in cooperation with Wirral Council.


Support and advice to help you stop smoking 

If you – or someone you care about – live or work in Wirral and want to stop smoking, we can help. You can speak to your GP about our service or contact us directly.

We work locally with the NHS to provide all the advice, support and therapy you need to help you break the habit, and most people who come to us manage to give up within 12 weeks – for good.

There are no waiting times, our service is FREE (including your nicotine replacement therapy) and you can even refer yourself.

Begin your journey to a smokefree you today. 

Our Stop Smoking Service helps individuals quit smoking for good. Our aim is to support you in understanding why you smoke, to identify and manage your cravings and offer advice around relapse prevention. Our evidence-based 12 week programme offers flexible support, tailored to each person’s needs. Every year we help over 1500 to stop smoking.

We have lots of experience working with pregnant women, young people, and people with long-term medical and/or mental health conditions.

Our dedicated and friendly advisors can support anyone who lives or works in The Wirral and offer a range of free of one-to-one and drop in sessions. Self-help, telephone and online support is also available.

We provide FREE access to a range of nicotine replacement products and stop smoking medication to help you with your quit.

Our service is available to anyone who lives or works in The Wirral.

Health Services in Schools Youth Workers

HSIS Youth Workers are a team of professionally qualified youth workers. The team currently work in Wirral Secondary Schools, Wirral Six Form and Wirral Met College.


Each school/college has a designated HSIS Youth Worker that provides young people with an opportunity to access confidential support on any issues which may be affecting them.

We provide support to young people around Building Resilience, Reducing risks, Relationships, Sexual Health (including issuing condoms in some schools) Drugs, Alcohol, Emotional Health and Well-Being, Stress and Anxiety.

To get support in school/ college contact your school pastoral lead of head of year.

Download a copy of our latest timetable

Response

If you, or someone you know is having problems with drug and/or alcohol misuse Response can provide help and support. Response offers a wide range of support for young people, aged 13 - 19, including drugs & alcohol, counselling and lifestyle support.

To contact the team call 0151 666 4123 or email response@wirral.gov.uk

We encourage anyone looking for advice to call us, Monday to Friday 9am-8pm.

Referrals can be made on this number to both the Counselling Team and the Alcohol and Substance Team. We are able to offer 1-2-1 support for Young People who are struggling with their alcohol or substance use, and often work with other agencies to support Young People in diversionary activities . We deliver professionals training (currently online) that can be accessed through https://www.wirralsafeguarding.co.uk/training/ and lead on the Arrowe Park Hospital Alcohol and Substance Pathway and engage with Young People who have presented at A&E due to substance use. We also provide workshops to parents in collaboration with Health Service In Schools and CAMHS.

SHOUT

Shout is an affiliate of Crisis Text Line® in the UK that provides free, confidential support, 24/7 via text. It’s the first free 24/7 texting service in the UK for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere. Shout is available in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland

 

Text SHOUT to 85258 in the UK to text with a trained Crisis Volunteer

or

Text BLUE to 85258 to get resources and sign posting information.

 

Every texter is connected with a real-life human being trained to bring people from a hot moment to a cool calm place through active listening and collaborative problem-solving. All of our Crisis Volunteers donate their time to helping people in crisis.