Love your lungs, go smoke-free

Imperial is committed to creating a healthy environment for its community. From 1 August 2017, all College campuses are now smoke-free. You may have been considering stopping smoking for a while and maybe the time is right now to try. Information to help you is right here.

Support to help you stop smoking

Help and Support

Stop smoking

There is plenty of help available to quit. Evidence shows that you are up to four times more likely to give up smoking for good if you get the right support. Get started with free expert support, stop smoking aids, tools and practical tips.

Kensington and Chelsea residentsOne You Kensington & Chelsea offer confidential advice to people who live in Kensington & Chelsea.

Hammersmith and Fulham residentsKickit offer advice and support for people who live in Hammersmith & Fulham and Kingston.

For residents in other areas: you can find out what stop smoking services and support are available in your local area on:

Information booklets are available from the Occupational Health Department and in and around the College on advice on giving up smoking. Occupational Health also invites Stop Smoking Advisors for National No Smoking Day in March and one day in October for Stoptober where free advice can be given.

Other resources include:

Local NHS Stop Smoking Services - offers free specialist advice, tailored to individual needs and will provide you with information and advice about nicotine replacement products and other stop smoking medicines.
London Telephone Portal - telephone service for all London residents, call 0300 123 1044
NHS Live Well - offers free advice via a method of your choice (email, Quit Kit, app and SMS)

You choose which one is right for you!

Smoke Free App

Smoke FreeSmoke-Free is built on tried-and-tested and evidence-based behaviour change techniques, and the pro version has been shown to double your chances of quitting. The app is super easy to use, and users seem to love it. Over 50,000 people have given it a 5-star review. If you want to quit smoking, you'll probably not find a more helpful app than Smoke-Free.

Imperial College discount: Staff and students using iPhones can access all pro features of the app for 30% off. Click this link and enter IMPERIALQUITS into the voucher code box on the next screen to get your discount.

Staff and students based at the Silwood Park campus on iPhone or Android can access all Pro features of the app for free. To find out more, please contact Occupational Health.

Treatment options

There are a variety of treatments options available to help you quit smoking.

  • Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT): 
    Nicotine is the addictive substance within the cigarette. After smoking for a while, your body gets used to the regular doses of nicotine that you get from your cigarettes. When you stop smoking, you quickly remove the nicotine in your body. NRT provides your body with the nicotine it craves. NRT is safer than a cigarette as it does not contain all the other harmful poisons. NRT comes in different forms, including:
    • Skin patches
    • Chewing gum
    • Inhalators
    • Tablets, strips and lozenges
    • Nasal spray
    • Mouth spray
    Your GP can prescribe NRT, or you can buy it from a pharmacy.
  • Stop Smoking Medication:
    • Zyban (bupropion)
    • Champix (varenicline)
    These are available on prescription from the NHS.
  • Electronic Cigarettes/E. Cigarettes: 
    Electronic devices that produce a visible cloud of vapour, many of which contain nicotine. These are unlicensed, but people have found them helpful in giving up.

Facts

Smoking causes serious health problems, many of them which can be life-threatening. In the UK, thousands of people die each year from a smoking-related illness or disease.

Since 2007 it has been a criminal offence to smoke or permit smoking inside work places or 'substantially enclosed' public places, including bars and restaurants.

Why quit?

Find out why now is the right time to quit.

  • For your health
  • For your family - more than 80% of second-hand smoke is invisible and odourless. Even if you are careful, your family will still breathe in the harmful toxins (even if you open windows and doors or smoke in other rooms). You can find more information on passive smoking here.
  • To save money - try the quick cost calculator to show you how much money you can save.