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Are you ready...for "No smoking day"?

Cigarettes (Digitoll/Dreamstime.com)

National "No smoking day" was held this month (9 March 2011), and may well spark an influx of customer queries about kicking the habit.

This page brings together a wealth of information to get you and your pharmacy team up to date on the latest resources, products and guidance relating to smoking cessation.

...And what better place to begin than with this special feature

 


Other resources

Smokefree (NHS Choices) 

Guidelines on smoking cessation services (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) 

Smoking cessation medication (Smoking Cessation Service Research Network)

Smoking can increase heart attack risk (British Heart Foundation)

Stop smoking service: Template enhanced/local service specification (Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee)

UK National Smoking Cessation Conference 2011 (13-14 June 2011)

PJ Online archives

NHS Quit Kit:

Free NRT patches to be available from pharmacies

NHS Quit Kits available for independent pharmacies

PSNC criticises NHS Quit Kit scheme

Other news:

No Smoking Day charity and Royal Pharmaceutical Society join forces on 2011 campaign

Prioritise smoking cessation services for those with mental health problems

Stopping smoking effective for COPD

NRT licensing extended to include harm reduction

Offering financial reward for giving up smoking remains a dilemma  

Features and CPD:

CPD: How to encourage smoking cessation

No Smoking Day: what pharmacists can do to help smokers kick the habit

BNF Case Study: recommending a suitable smoking cessation aid for a patient suffering from depression

How motivational interviewing can help patients change their lifestyles

News from the PJ Online library

Resources, services and campaigns

NICE publishes guide on stop smoking services during pregnancy

DoH best practice guidance on stop smoking services published

NHS figures show stop smoking services under increasing demand

NHS Employers publishes guidance for commissioning pharmacy stop-smoking services

UCL heads smoking cessation training centre

Co-operative Pharmacy offers stop-smoking advice for Muslims during Ramadan

Healthy living pharmacies improving service outcomes

Clinical studies and evidence

Bupropion reduces cue-induced brain activity in smokers

Combination of NRT and nortriptyline unlikely to be more effective than single therapies in smoking cessation

Gradual smoking reduction aided by nicotine gum

Nicotine gum for pregnant smokers increases birth weight (POEM)

Smoking cessation: varenicline 

Intensive smoking cessation programmes more likely to help smokers quit before surgery

NRT useful for those not intending to quit

Commercial websites

A wide range of nicotine replacement products is available over the pharmacy counter. The following websites feature the major brands that will be familiar to you and your customers:

  • The website for NiQuitin (nicotine; GlaxoSmithKline) includes information about how the product works, an online support programme and discussion forum for smoking quitters and vouchers offering money off products.
  • The Nicotinell (nicotine; Novartis) website includes information about available products, a list of common triggers and tips and techniques to help quitting.
  • Nicorette (nicotine; McNeil) also has vouchers, support programmes, product information and video testimonials from past smokers.

 

And for something a little different…

If the health arguments aren't enough to convince your patients of the value of quitting, perhaps calculating exactly how much the habit is affecting their pocket will tip the (bank) balance. 

Go to the Are you ready...? homepage