Stoptober: Ask Stoptober a question

Former_MSE_Andrea

Potato_Fist wrote: »

Hi Stoptober

Do you know where i left my car keys? I cant find them anywhere

Haha :rotfl::D

Stoptober

Stoptober - the 28-day quit smoking campaign – is now underway!

Stoptober has driven over 1 million quit attempts to date and is the biggest mass quit attempt in the country. It is based on research that if you can stop smoking for 28-days, you are FIVE times more likely to stay smoke-free for good.

Everyone’s quitting journey is different, but with Stoptober, you won’t be on your own. Join the thousands quitting smoking with Stoptober and get all the support you need to help you on your quit journey.

You can quit using medication (including nicotine replacement therapies such as patches and gum) or e-cigarettes. Stoptober offers a range of free support to help you, including an app, daily emails, Facebook Messenger and lots of encouragement from the Stoptober online community on Facebook. In addition, you can get expert face-to-face advice from local stop smoking services.

Those who use stop smoking aids and who get face-to-face support from their local stop smoking service are up to four times more likely to quit successfully.

Stopping smoking is the best thing you can do for your health and the health of those around you. Remember - if you can make it to 28 days smoke-free, you’re 5 times more likely to stay quit for good. Just search ‘Stoptober’ to find out more.

We’ll be keeping an eye on questions throughout the week and posting replies to the most frequently asked next Monday, supporting you throughout Stoptober.

Top tip for this week – write out your ‘quit list’
Begin by writing out a list of reasons why you’re quitting smoking. For example, think about how much money you’ll save or the benefits to your health, perhaps you want to quit for your family. The list will not only reinforce your decision to stop smoking for Stoptober, but you’ll also find it a handy tool to refer to on those difficult days when you feel your cravings are close to getting the better of you!

surveyqueenuk

I have a question...

Why do we have to have both Stoptober and Sober for October? Give up ciggies AND drink in October?

[Deleted User]

Hi,

I think it's because when folks who are trying to give up smoking, go out for a drink with their mates, who still like a smoke,,,,

will power is strong at start of the night, then as the alcohol kicks in things start to change,,,,

your mates are outside smoking and you're maybe left on your own, then you say, ach, I'll only have one tonight and go out and join them, that's the start.

So better not to yield to temptation, plus look at the money you will save.

Former_MSE_Andrea

How's it going everyone?

Have you worked out how much you've saved?

suelizab

I stopped smoking during stoptober 2013 , this site helped me no end . Haven't had a puff since . The only thing is that the craving for a fag pops up now and again, and I often looks for them with a coffee forgetting that I don't smoke anymore . I had been smoking for 41 years . good luck to those trying to give up . If you fall off the wagon just start again the next day .

Stoptober

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for all your questions so far. Please keep them coming - we are excited to be taking part in this forum!

This week we have got some answers for you on the two main questions asked so far - these are about Stoptober statistics, and the difference between Stoptober and Go Sober for October.

Do Stoptober keep statistics on what proportion of people have previously taken part and are trying again?
It is difficult to get the exact numbers of people who have taken part in Stoptober on more than one occasion, but we do know that over 1 million people have joined Stoptober since 2012, and there are now 11.5 million ex-smokers in England. There are currently nearly seven million smokers in England, but smoking rates are at their lowest level since records began (15.5% of the adult population).

New data released from a report from UCL showed that quitting success rates are at their highest for at least a decade - up to 19.8% - significantly higher than the average for the preceding 10 years (15.7%). The report, from leading smoking cessation expert Professor Robert West, estimates that with a success rate of one in five, the first half of 2017 has seen approximately half a million people having stopped smoking. The new report cites more quitting aid options for smokers wanting to stop, more restrictions on smoking, the introduction of plain tobacco packaging and a stronger anti-smoking culture in England, along with stop smoking campaigns such as Stoptober, as the reasons why things should be getting easier for smokers to stop and quitting success rates are rising.

Why do we have to have both Stoptober and Sober for October? Give up ciggies AND drink in October?
Stoptober is a Public Health England initiative and is the biggest mass quit attempt of its kind that calls on smokers to stop smoking for 28 days to see for themselves the health and financial benefits giving up their habit has. It is not about raising money for a charity. Smokers wishing to quit are encouraged to search ‘Stoptober’ to find out about a range of free and proven support available to help them start their quitting journey for 28 days and beyond.

Go Sober for October is a charity-led initiative encouraging people go 31 days without alcohol this October to raise money for people living with cancer.

Former_MSE_Andrea

Thanks for the replies!

Keep your questions coming everyone. How are you doing? How much have you saved so far?