Talking to people about their smoking
Smoking causes more preventable deaths in England than anything else. It’s putting the NHS and social care services under immense pressure: we spend £2.6 billion every year treating diseases caused by smoking. Speaking to people about their smoking has huge potential benefits, whether or not they have related health problems.
We know it's not always easy to speak to people about smoking, whether they're a family member, friend, employee or patient, so here’s some advice on how to start the conversation and - once they're ready - support them to cut down or quit.
The smoker has to want to quit
People only stop smoking when they’re ready. Being asked to quit by friends, family or healthcare professionals rarely leads to someone stopping successfully. If they’re not ready, there’s not much you can do.
Keep nudging
Keep the lines of communication open so you can ask them about their smoking again at a suitable moment in the future. Sometimes it takes lots of little nudges for people to see that smoking is harming them, so keep bringing it up, gently.
Make the most of the triggers for quitting
There are some key things that trigger people to stop smoking. For example:
- Health scares, and particularly cancer, heart and lung problems
- Noticing the signs of ageing, like slowing down or feeling out of breath
- A friend or family member being diagnosed with a smoking-related illness
- Having a child or grandchild on the way
Keep an eye open for these triggers; they’re an opportune moment to speak about smoking.
Don't judge
Many people feel judged for smoking, which can really put them off talking about it. Make sure your conversations are supportive. It’s fine to express your concerns about the impact smoking is having on their health, particularly if you can give concrete examples. You could also talk about the physical benefits they might see from quitting, like coughing less, being able to keep up with their kids or grandkids, and regaining their sense of smell and taste.
Listen to their feelings about quitting and try to find out more about where they are. Lots of people use smoking to deal with stress, which can make them feel unable to quit.
Offer support
Offer them support through our SmokeFree services. Explain that they’ll get their own advisor or nurse, access to nicotine replacement products, and lots of support and guidance to help them quit - without judgement or pressure.
If we don't have a service in their area, you can find other other stop smoking services on the NHS website.
Training for professionals
If you'd like to help reduce smoking and improve health in your community or workforce, we can help. Some of our stop smoking services offer free training and workshops for employers and healthcare professionals, and you can refer people to our services for support.