Former smoker is happy to be called a quitter (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Former smoker is happy to be called a quitter

12:21pm Tuesday 7th February 2012 in Local By Helen Morton

A BASINGSTOKE man is celebrating seven months without a cigarette after he kicked the habit with the help of a stop smoking service.

Andy Beall, 24, used Southern Health’s Quit4Life Hampshire stop smoking service to help him quit.

Mr Beall, who works in IT, had previously tried several times to give up smoking.

He said: “It was getting to be an expensive addiction and I wanted to stop.

“I was worried about my health and wanted to get fit, and I understood that smoking would have hindered that.

“I wonder how I ever afforded to smoke at £8 a packet and when I ever had the time to smoke.

“Last year, I went on two holidays to Norway and Spain and I wouldn’t have been able to afford it if I was still smoking.”

Smokers are four times more likely to succeed with Quit4Life than if they go cold turkey.

Advisers are able to offer a wide range of products for helping you beat the habit.

Mr Beall said: “I attended my Quit4Life session in Basingstoke once a week, where they monitor your levels of carbon monoxide and you can speak to an adviser on a one-to-one basis.

“It’s good to see other people in the same position as you.

“When someone is unsuccessful, it drives you to be successful as you don’t want to fail.

“Quit4Life can offer you all kinds of nicotine replacement therapy options, such as inhalators, chewing gum and patches.

“I just stuck to the inhalator and the gum as I felt they worked best for me, but everyone is different.

“You think the inhalator is going to look stupid but you don’t feel it. Pubs are dark and I still step outside for a cigarette and use my inhalator.”

To find out more about Quit4Life, call 0845 602 4663, text QUIT to 60123 or visit quit4life.nhs.uk.