Thousands of people successfully give up smoking every year through a variety of methods.
ASH Scotland has collected a series of personal stories from a range of people on how they quit smoking. These include a smoker who quit after more than 50 years of smoking; a smoker who quit through the NHS and now runs stop-smoking courses; and another who quit with his partner after a health scare.
Many thanks are due to the individuals below for sharing their story and for aiming to inspire others to quit. More recent case studies include a top tip for smokers thinking about quitting, and a quote from a friend or family member about the smoker who quit.
- Maddie Stark, Edinburgh: After starting to smoke aged 11, Maddie says finding out why she smoked helped her quit.
- Bernadette Campbell, Rutherglen: “Stopping smoking changed my career!”
- Malcolm Davie & Susan Moore, Edinburgh: “It was a great team effort and we helped each other to quit.”
- Sheila Douglas, Edinburgh: After 53 years, Sheila quit because she had “the wish and the will.”
- Anne Banks, Lothian: works at a hospital, smoked for 36 years.
- Bill McLean, Edinburgh: in his 60s, smoked up to 40-a-day.
- Leigh Black, Edinburgh: after her first child, quit at the same time as her partner.
- David Neilson, East Glasgow: in his 60s, no longer needs his walking stick.
Smoking is devastating to Scotland’s public health accounting for a quarter of all adult deaths and thousands of others are affected by smoking-related illness. Giving up is one of the best things anyone can do to improve their health and quality of life.
69% of smokers say they want to give up and there is lot of help and advice available to support smokers who want to quit. Lots of people can stop through willpower alone – and often find it easier than they thought it would be. Many people find alternative therapies helpful. You can also access free stop smoking support through the NHS, your local pharmacy, and Smokeline. These services can be very effective and they are available free of charge for everyone to use.
These case studies can be used or quoted with permission from ASH Scotland. For more information, please contact ASH Scotland on 0131 225 4725 or email enquiries@ashscotland.org.uk.
