Helping someone to stop smoking

Can I help?

However much you want someone else to stop smoking, the decision to stop is theirs. You can’t make them choose something they are not ready for. It is important to understand that cigarettes contain nicotine and that nicotine is addictive.

But you can:

  • let them know how you feel about their smoking, and that you are concerned about them
  • find out how they feel about it
  • let them know how their smoking is affecting you
  • offer your support, recognising that giving up tobacco is very difficult for some people.

Offering Support

If you are close to someone who has decided to stop smoking, you can help them in a number of ways:

  • encourage them
  • be patient with them if they are short-tempered while stopping smoking; this can be a symptom of withdrawal from nicotine
  • avoid putting extra pressure on them
  • don't buy them cigarettes - worth remembering if you are going on holiday

Can smokers help other smokers to stop?

As a smoker, you can help someone who is trying to stop smoking by:

  • respecting their decision to stop smoking
  • not offering them cigarettes
  • avoiding smoking near the person who is trying to stop

What if they start smoking again?

There are a number of reasons why people start smoking again, and it can be disappointing for them and you. Most people, though, take a number of attempts before they manage to stop smoking forgood.

  • don't make negative comments
  • point out that if they decide to try again in future, they will have learned something useful from this experience
  • be there to encourage and support them when they try again

Smokeline: 0800 84 84 84
The national Smokeline is free and staffed by trained counsellors who will do their best to help you and to answer any questions you may have.

Quit: 0171 487 3000
Runs a freephone Pregnancy Quitline service, and freephone Asian Quitline services in Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu. Contact ASH Scotland for details of days, times and numbers.