Stoptober|NHS Campaign

estebanrey said:
When the NHS recognize e-cigarettes as the only reliable way to quit they might have some success. But whilst they continue to deny they exist and push the patches, gum and inhalers which have an awful success rate (which is what their manufacturers actually want so you keep coming back) I don't believe they actually want people to quit at all.

The NHS would be screwed financially too if everyone quit tomorrow and smoker's put in far more than they cost (on average).
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They aren't the only reliable way to quit. Hell, they're not even a way to quit. They continue the nicotine addiction just like patches, inhalators, gum, spray etc etc.

In fact, early studies show that vaping may be harmful to your respiratory system in the short term.

Also, the NHS just about breaks even on smokers. If everybody gave up smoking tomorrow the quality of care within the NHS may improve as they would be spending less time on palliative care for smokers who bring their ailments upon themselves.

As a heavy smoker of a number of years, the explosion in this Us vs Them mentality between smokers and non-smokers just makes me sick. The gobby anti-smokers were always obnoxious, but smokers in general have generally become a less agreeable bunch of people. Maybe it's because they've been forced to feel that they must defend their lifestyle choices, maybe it's because the middle class has largely given up and only gob****es seem to smoke. Maybe it's just that the growing, empowered and constant offensive from anti-smoking activists has bred a defensive attitude.

Smoking was attractive when it wasn't a talking point. It was nice when people weren't compelled to ask you why you do it, like you're an idiot, or when people didn't feel the need to go out of their way to make snide comments. Now it's just a drag. I don't ask why you scarf down cheeseburgers, drink more than you should, refuse to learn to speak/write correctly or just be a better informed citizen - all things that offend me and my health. Why people cannot live and let live confounds me.
 
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Tefal said:
Yes, being human beings they probably prefer to have a tighter budget and less corpses and cancer cases than a fatter budget and weeping families.
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Did you not read my whole post? If smokers are MORE than paying for themselves, that fatter budget would give us less corpses and weeping families.
It's a terrible way to think of it, but some people have to think like that. Less people will get cancer, but if it were to cripple the NHS as is often claimed, fewer people could get treatment for other things and die, leaving more corpses and weeping families.
 
Theophany said:
They aren't the only reliable way to quit.

Hell, they're not even a way to quit. They continue the nicotine addiction just like patches, inhalators, gum, spray etc etc.

In fact, early studies show that vaping may be harmful to your respiratory system in the short term.
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It's easier to reduce the amount of nicotine you're taking though, as the liquids come with specified levels of nicotine. They even sell nicotine-free for those who like to have a vape now and then.

As with anything new though, the long term effects won't be known for some time. As a way of quitting cigarettes, it's the best out there (patches, gum and spray have all been shown to do very little, if anything at all).
 
int said:
It's easier to reduce the amount of nicotine you're taking though, as the liquids come with specified levels of nicotine. They even sell nicotine-free for those who like to have a vape now and then.

As with anything new though, the long term effects won't be known for some time. As a way of quitting cigarettes, it's the best out there (patches, gum and spray have all been shown to do very little, if anything at all).
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Sure, for some. But it's all subjective. And there is no reliable data to compare the success of vaping to other forms of NRT.

Having tried all the different NRTs going, I'm pegging my hopes on manning up and doing cold turkey. I can't get my head around the idea of weaning myself off the drug, I want to quit. It's a question of willpower and I think I'm finally at the place I need to be to muster enough of it. :)

dbmzk1 said:
What's the point in stopping for a month?!
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There isn't one. The idea is that you do it for a month and the hardest part is already behind you.
 
I read the easy way to stop smoking by Allen Carr two weeks ago and ain't smoked since... That books weird, it just rewires your brain so you feel stupid smoking.

Withdrawal symptoms are nothing if your heads in the right place.
 
I can't see how all smokers stopping would be a beneficial thing for the country.
I'll happily have someone say I'm wrong and tell me the figures, but don't smokers provide a healthy cash lining to the governments pockets?
 
Emlyn_Dewar said:
I can't see how all smokers stopping would be a beneficial thing for the country.
I'll happily have someone say I'm wrong and tell me the figures, but don't smokers provide a healthy cash lining to the governments pockets?
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There aren't any reliable figures, imho. While smokers do provide a *lot* in tax, over £7bn, the effect of them all quitting is unknown.

Healthier lives would mean less time off sick, which the government pays towards. Less treatment on the NHS, giving us a cheaper service, lower waiting times. Smoking around children can cause asthma, obviously reducing this is a good thing. Cleaner streets, butts seem to be the most common litter, at least round my way.

I just don't think the overall effect of going smoke-free is so easily quantifiable.
 
Emlyn_Dewar said:
I can't see how all smokers stopping would be a beneficial thing for the country.
I'll happily have someone say I'm wrong and tell me the figures, but don't smokers provide a healthy cash lining to the governments pockets?
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Tax revenues are a matter for HMRC, not the NHS. Just because cigarettes are taxed doesn't mean that any of the money is actually allocated to the NHS, it just goes into a general pot of taxation.

That being said, the last figures I saw on the Beeb (sorry, no link) was that the numbers were £10 and £12 billion - so a £2 billion surplus.

But that is a side issue anyway; the fact is that smoking related illnesses are a burden on the NHS that is both unnecessary and diverts resources away from care for other diseases that are not as avoidable.

Estimates suggest there are currently between 13 and 16 million smokers in the UK. The NHS has finite resources that could be put to better use instead of anti-smoking campaigns and palliative care for preventable lung and respiratory diseases caused by smoking.
 
Emlyn_Dewar said:
What would we do with all these people living longer and paying less taxes?
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People are living longer anyway, this is being taken into consideration by gradual increases in the pensionable age and the fact that people will _have_ to work longer just to be able to get by as they get older.

Smoking doesn't factor into the longevity problem facing the developed world.
 
I never got to meet my grandfather but when I heard the stories from my dad about how he suffered with emphysema and had to carry an oxygen tank just to walk 100 feet, needless to say it put me off the idea of smoking for life.

I know horror stories don't always work but I think most smokers would agree that they would be better off having never touched a cigarette.

Anway, best of luck to those giving quiting a chance.
 
majnu said:
Fantastic :D

I'm hoping at least 10 forum members who smoke can make an effort and then post their day to day stories if they so wish. ;)
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Sounds good to me! I've downloaded one of those Smokefree apps too. A little simple gratification should spur on my tiny mind; 10% progress to carbon monoxide out of the blood stream etc etc :D
 
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