Stopping Smoking

• You must be 18 years old to legally buy cigarettes.
• It's against the law to smoke in enclosed public places (such as cafés and bars).
• Every cigarette you smoke means that you'll take 20 minutes off your life.
• Smoking can cause many side effects.

• There are lots of ways to stop smoking, for example, going cold turkey, cutting down gradually, going to a support group and using nicotine replacement therapy.
• If you try to give up but start smoking again, keep trying. Many people stop several times before they give up for good.
• Just 20 minutes after your last cigarette your body will start getting healthier. After 72 hours you'll find it easier to breathe, but it takes up to 15 years for your risk of serious illness to fall back to normal. If you want help to stop smoking you can ask your school nurse or contact Blaenau Gwent NHS Stop Smoking Service, they offer:
• Practical advice, support and encouragement
• Tips on how to handle cravings.

“I can tell when my friend has been smoking because her breath really smells.”
Bad breath, yellow fingers, rotting teeth, smelly clothes and hair – these are just some of the side effects of being a smoker. Smoking can cause a 'smoker's cough' and smokers generally aren’t as fit as non-smokers. Chemicals in cigarette smoke affect the entire body, this is why smoking causes so many diseases, including many types of cancer, heart disease and lung diseases. Smoking will shorten your life, so it’s really not a cool thing to do! If your friends smoke, it can be hard not to start too but don’t get bullied into trying it. Another reason to avoid cigarettes is the amount they cost – just think what you could buy with that money instead! Smoking can harm other people who breathe in your smoke. This is called secondhand smoking. The nicotine in tobacco is addictive, which means it's hard to give up. A person can get addicted to nicotine within days of a first trying it. In fact, the nicotine in tobacco can be as addictive as drugs like cocaine or heroine. Nicotine affects your moods too. There are lots of ways to get help to stop - just find the one that's best for you.
If you haven’t tried smoking - don’t bother! It doesn’t look good, it’s bad for you and it’s expensive.

Stop Smoking Wales

Here you will find information about stopping smoking and how to get free support if you, or someone you know, wants to stop smoking.

It is estimated that over two thirds of smokers would like to stop so you are not alone.

Please call freephone 0800 085 2219 or visit

http://www.stopsmokingwales.com/

Ash Wales

Action on Smoking and Health (ASH)

ASH Wales is the leading voluntary organisation in Wales tackling tobacco use.

Our main aim is to achieve a reduction in and eventual elimination of the health problems associated with tobacco use.

The Vision of ASH Wales is
"ASH Wales is committed to achieving a life free from tobacco for all people in Wales"

8 Museum Place
2nd Floor
Cardiff
CF10 3BG

Telephone: 029 2064 1101
Fax: 029 2064 1045

Some Useful Websites

Smokefree Action - NHS quit site

STUB - For young people in Wales Bilingual NHS site - thinking about quitting

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