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What happens in a Stop Smoking Support Group?
A stop smoking support group runs usually for seven weeks by a trained stop smoking adviser, on a weekly basis and the clients are encouraged to set a quit date to stop smoking sometime before week three.- The meetings are at the same time each week for 7 weeks, and usually last less than an hour depending on the group size.
- This is an informal group, it’s about getting support from fellow smokers as well as the adviser, and it’s friendly and non-judgemental. You won’t be forced to speak in the group if you don’t want to!
- In the early weeks we talk about the benefits from stopping smoking, health benefits, financial benefits and the freedom that you get back from no longer having to worry about when or where you can smoke.
- Visual aids and leaflets are taken along to each session and carbon monoxide testing is carried out with each client each week. This really helps the client – once they stop smoking their carbon monoxide reading improves rapidly.
- We discuss all the options that are available with Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) and other medication and the adviser helps each individual to decide what is most suitable for them.
- Throughout the following weeks support and advice is given to the client to help change their behaviour when breaking their habit.
- We encourage the group to share and exchange their experiences and ideas with each other as it’s sometimes good to hear that other people are feeling the same way too.
- The group get tips from the adviser and from each other about things that work well for them when they have cravings or are going to be in a situation that may trigger a craving.
- Sometimes members of the group buddy-up with each other to give each other support outside the group, but this is completely optional!
