Free HSE Stop Smoking Service and access to Free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) available across Dublin South and Dublin South East this October

Help is at hand for any residents of Dublin South and South East who want to quit smoking.

In 2022, almost one in five people in Ireland smoked* (Healthy Ireland, 2022).

The prevalence of smoking in Ireland remains at 18% and has not declined since 2019.

The Health Promotion and Improvement team, part of the Health and Wellbeing Division in HSE Community Healthcare East, run a stop smoking service across Dublin south and Dublin south east to support people to quit smoking and stay quit.

The service aims to help people in a friendly non-judgemental way to set their quit date, develop coping strategies and support the person to stay quit for good.

Those who attend the local stop smoking service can also access free nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) as part of their package of support.

NRT are licensed medicines that safely give you low levels of nicotine to help with cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

Pictured on Bray Beach L – R are staff from the HSE Community Healthcare East Stop Smoking Service: Carolina Dominguez Buitrago (Stop Smoking Advisor), Mateusz Naumczyk (Stop Smoking Advisor), Danielle Mervyn (Stop Smoking Advisor), Kirk St.Lewis (Tobacco Team Lead) and Sara McQuinn (Stop Smoking Advisor)

Using NRT can double your chances of quitting for good.  Providing access to free NRT has encouraged many smokers, who previously considered the cost of NRT as a barrier to them quitting, to sign up for this valuable service.

Martina Queally, Chief Officer, HSE Community Healthcare East comments: “Providing access to free NRT is an important addition to our stop smoking service.

“It removes a significant financial barrier to quitting and is very welcome in the midst of the current cost of living crisis.

“Our hope is that by providing a high-quality stop smoking service, coupled with access to free NRT, we can significantly improve the health and wellbeing of our community.”

The health benefits of quitting smoking are significant and apparent almost immediately:

• After just 20 minutes: circulation improves, blood pressure and heart rate lower and the risk of a heart attack starts to reduce.
• After 72 hours: Breathing improves and energy levels increase.
• After 2 to 3 months: Lung capacity could increase by up to 30%.
• After 1 year: The chance of having a heart attack drops by half.

Quitting smoking also has significant financial benefits. Someone who smokes 20 cigarettes a day will save around €5,000 over the course of a year by quitting (based on the average cost of 20 cigarettes).

Aisling Heffernan, Head of Service Health and Wellbeing in HSE Community Healthcare East adds “I would encourage anyone who is even thinking about quitting to get in touch with us today to talk through the supports that are available to them. Our team of Stop Smoking Advisors have stop smoking services in Clonskeagh, Sandymount, Baggot Street, Balally, Churchtown, Blackrock, Stillorgan, Loughlinstown, Dun Laoghaire, Shankill, Ballinteer, and Leopardstown.”

Aoife (aged 44) has been attending a local Stop Smoking Service for 12 weeks.

Reflecting on her quit journey so far, Aoife says: “I just wish I had done it years ago. It’s changed my whole outlook on life.

“I’m feeling more optimistic about the future, like what’s the next opportunity I can take on, what else can I do?

“The freedom from cigarettes is amazing and I’m really feeling the extra money in my account.

“The advisor was great, there was no judgement at all and I’m telling everyone about the free NRT!

“The service made everything so easy, there were no barriers, and the check-ins were really helpful.”

Kirk St Lewis, Tobacco Lead, HSE Community Healthcare East, outlines the support available to people living in south and southeast Dublin: “In a one-to-one session, which can be delivered face to face or over the phone, your Stop Smoking Advisor will assess your nicotine addiction, help you identify your reasons for quitting, discuss your best options for NRT and create a personal plan to help you quit smoking for good.

“If you join our stop smoking service, your local advisor will arrange for you to access NRT through your GP or your nearest participating pharmacy.

“Your advisor will keep in touch with you weekly for the first 6 weeks after you quit and periodically for up to 12 months to help and support you throughout your quit journey.”

For more information or to sign up email [email protected], phone 087 0927225 or scan the QR code below.