As all the regular readers will know, i am a non smoker, (that still makes me feel good when i say that), a non smoker of only 15 weeks i know, but a non smoker all the same. So why would i, a non smoker, apply for the free NHS Quit Kit that is being advertised nationally (uk) to aid people in giving up smoking?......Why?......because i was curious to see what our NHS and Government were doing to aid those that need help.
For those that aren't aware of this and to any overseas reader that i may have reading this, our National Health Service is on a purge at the moment where smoking is concerned, and they are offering this free "Quit Kit" in order to aid you in quitting the cigarettes. A good thing??.....yes, of course it is, anything that is available to you when you want to give up is a good thing. Will it do what it is intended to do?, IE, help you make that first step and quit cigarettes?......no it wont !! Don't get me wrong, the idea was good, the fact that it is free is good, it is well advertised, national tv and papers, which is good, and the fact that there are people out there trying to help is good, but at the end of the day what you get in this kit is NOT going to help you in any shape or form to stop smoking (in my opinion that is). I smoked my whole adult life, for 26 years in total, i knew for months in advance that i was leading up to giving up. I didn't give up overnight, i did a bit of homework, prepared myself etc, well if i had of gotten this "Quit Kit", whilst in that period of being a smoker but knowing i was about to give up, i know that it would have been totally useless to me.
This are the 6 items that the kit contains:
- A toothbrush (with "smokefree" written on it)
- A Web Address where you can download "free stress-busters" for your mp3
- A leaflet asking you to write down, 1) Your triggers. 2) How you are going to beat them. 3)Set your sights
- A Questionnaire that will give you an idea how much willpower you have.
- A Booklet with some FAQ's .........4 FAQ'S to be precise
- A health and wealth wheel that will tell you how much you will save and how your health will improve over periods of time
The leaflet, questionnaire and booklet are not substantial and probably contain no more that about 200 words on each.....and a toothbrush????? whats that all about??
I would love to be able to get some statistics as to how successful this "Quit Kit" has been, because for me, speaking as a smoker who has just recently given up, its a total waste of time. Its appreciated that the NHS are trying, but i feel their efforts are wasted.
Have you received the NHS Quit Kit???
Has it helped you quit cigarettes?
Would love to hear your views on this. For anyone who wants one they are available by ringing the NHS Smoking Helpline on 0800 0665 826.
Regards
5 comments:
I've just had mine through - in fact, I actually found this blog whilst Googling to find out what the toothbrush was all about!! Maybe that blue stripe in the middle will fade after 30 days - ie, when you're officially "quit" ?!
Some points of the quit kit are good, and some are... well, terrible. The wheel is a nice touch - not for me as, like you, I researched quitting and actually found a more complete list of the effects of giving up. But for people that haven't, I imagine it would be a great motivator to discover your body is repairing itself only 8 hours after your last cigarette.
The stickers were a complete dud as far as I'm concerned - bordering on patronising. They stopped handing out gold stars for doing well in school at about age 6 - whatever made them think a grown man/woman would take pride in sticking stickers to a sheet of paper is beyond me. But I'm sure they've done their research - perhaps the average person is more easily pleased than me :)
In conclusion, nothing in this pack will actually help me quit smoking. Granted it was an interesting read, but its doubtful any of the leaflets will ever leave the box again.
And I still want to know what that bloody toothbrush is all about!! :)
Thanks for taking the time to comment Chrismou.
Stickers???.....you got stickers?? Now i am feeling cheated !! I didn't get any stickers....not that it would of made me give it a better review, but even so.......a stickers a sticker !!
I'm also still trying to suss the toothbrush, if you happen to find the answer before me, please come back and let me know. Good luck with the quitting smoking, and thanks once again for dropping by
Regards
Vattie
As far as I've seen the only reason the toothbrush is this (taken from: http://nds.coi.gov.uk/Content/detail.aspx?NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=409894&SubjectId=2):
"a toothbrush – to remind quitters of the benefits of fresher breath and so they can see the difference when they brush (smokers get a yellow residue on their toothbrush)"
I personally haven't found much in this quit to actually assist, I'm only a few days in and the only thing I've found usefull is the tangle and that's just purely because it keeps my hands busy, and the actual arrival of the kit as after ordering it i promised I would quit the day it came in the post.
Congrats on quitting the smokes Bromerz, and thanks for taking the time to comment. Still cant see the thinking behind the toothbrush in the Quit Kit though, as everybody has a toothbrush anyway, and are surely reminded of the benefits of quitting everyday using their own toothbrush.
I'm wondering now why all these Quit Kits seem to be different, i didn't get the stickers, as mentioned in the first comment, nor did i get the "Tangle" that you mentioned in your reply......perhaps as they are running out of certain items they are just omitting them from the kit ?
Keep up the good work regarding giving up the ciggies.
Vattie
No nicotine patch? Not even the chewing gum? I'm writing from the US. Congratulations on quitting, everyone!
I quit 25 years ago and for me--this is not true for everyone--it was the most difficult thing I've ever done. 25 years ago and I still have those dreams where I'm happily smoking away and suddenly remember--oh no! And panic at going through withdrawl again. 25 years later and since people can't smoke indoors, I walk around and often find it's all I can do not to snatch that cig from a stranger fingers and puff with all my might.
On the other hand, nothing on earth would make me go back. Quitting is much too hard to try more than once!
Here's how I did it: Initially, I struggled to get through one hour between cigarettes. Then 1-1/2; 2; 2-1/2, etc. During the process, my body knew the time down the the last minute before that next cigarette. However, by the time I'd reached 8 hours, I wasn't physically addicted but still seriously craving them mentally. So I held toothpicks in my fingers and often between my lips. Sometimes I still find a handful of toothpicks in my pockets.
Since this was 25 years ago and I was still borderline girl/woman, I endured many insults about using those toothpicks: so unladylike!
The main thing is: it worked. I didn't gain one pound.
Good luck to you and everyone quitting.
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