Joe tells us about his journey to quitting smoking and the positive changes he's seen in his life as a result.
I started smoking cannabis in high school when I was just 10 years old, and by the time I was 11 I had progressed to cigarettes too. All my friends were smoking at the time, and it felt like the “cool” thing to do.
I had tried to stop smoking before. I tried vaping, but it didn’t help, nor did the inhalator or nicotine gum. None of them ever felt like they gave me enough nicotine, and I always wanted a cigarette. When I first tried vaping, many years ago, it wasn’t as popular or accessible as it is now. It felt like such a faff, having to constantly change the oils and liquids, so I eventually went back to smoking. At the time, it honestly seemed easier.
When I later decided I wanted to quit, I knew Champix had worked for me in the past. Unfortunately, it wasn’t available at the time, so I carried on smoking.
However, two years ago, my life changed when we started a family and my son was born. When he began nursery, I couldn’t even walk him to the nursery door without getting out of breath. It shocked me.
I realised I didn’t want to be that dad who couldn’t be there for his child.
I heard that a new version of Champix was available and, after looking online into how I could access medication again, I started taking Varenicline. Varenicline was easy to use, but for the first few weeks, I felt a bit sick, but that was because I wasn’t taking it properly. I hadn’t been taking it with meals, as advised. Once I started having the tablet with breakfast, it settled my stomach, and I now take the second tablet at 7:30pm with my evening meal. It really works!
Before this, I would wake up in the morning and have three joints with a cup of tea. Now, I don’t need that, as I take my tablets instead. I didn’t really enjoy smoking tobacco, as I was more interested in the cannabis that I put with it, but now I’m off the cannabis too!
I had previously been prescribed medicinal cannabis due to some physical and mental health conditions. When I was out of work, I couldn’t afford it anymore. I was spending around £30 a day on cannabis at street prices, plus another £20 a day on cigarettes — £50 a day in total. At my worst, I was smoking up to 23 joints a day before meeting Chelsea and becoming smokefree with the SmokeFree Hull team.
Since quitting, I’ve seen huge benefits to my mental health and many other positive changes in my life.
I started my own men’s mental health club called Dad’s War Room. When I left work, I was depressed, and my smoking increased as a way to cope. To help manage my depression and keep myself distracted, I began building and painting tabletop war game models such as Warhammer and Bolt Action. However, this was a solitary hobby, and I struggled to find places to play socially.
I eventually found a venue at Sutton Methodist Church and began inviting other men to come along and play. Now, between 20 and 30 men attend regularly, many of whom may be struggling with their mental health or finding it hard to socialise. They can come to chat, play games, or simply sit and have a cup of tea. We build and paint models together and then act the games out. Some large companies even send us free supplies now. Our motto is “No one fights alone.”
For two years, I barely left the house. Now I don’t feel alone anymore.
Since stopping smoking, my mind is no longer foggy, and I feel more mentally stimulated. I have enrolled at university and am now studying for a degree in military history. I often think about the hours I spent sitting in the garden smoking when I could have been playing with my son, and how much life I was missing out on. Something clicked in my mind. I used to believe I would never quit, that I would be that man you see walking down the street with an oxygen tank, but Varenicline genuinely saved my life. It gave me my chance to prove I could do it.
I’m healthier and I enjoy eating again, as food tastes better now. I have more energy, and I sleep better too. The benefits are endless!
Chelsea, my SmokeFree Hull Advisor, was amazing. She never judged me, and we spoke openly about my cannabis use.
She knew how to support me and spoke to me like a human being, not a checklist. I hadn’t received support like this before, but Chelsea made the experience positive, and I genuinely looked forward to our weekly calls. Having non-judgemental support made quitting so much easier.
I have now been smokefree since January. If I can do it, so can you. I give advice to anyone who attends Dad’s War Room about quitting smoking and try to make a difference wherever I can. Varenicline was the kick-start, but willpower is essential - you have to want to quit for yourself or for your family. I would recommend SmokeFree Hull to anyone wanting to stop smoking. It really is the easiest way to quit!