Struggling to quit smoking? Discover seven methods for stopping smoking effectively

Friday, July 1, marked the 15-year anniversary of the introduction of smoke free law, protecting people from second-hand smoke in restaurants, pubs, bars, shops, offices and workplaces. It is estimated that around one in four people in Greater Manchester smoked in 2007. Compared to just one in six today, the city-region has seen a dramatic fall in the number of people smoking.

But the message from NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care is that more needs to be done to make smoking history for everyone. That’s why it is launching the latest phase of the successful Never Quit Quitting campaign, with the aim of helping thousands of people to make a quit attempt. During the last phase of the campaign, more than three-quarters (76%) of smokers who saw the campaign took positive action to go smoke free, including looking for support, cutting down, and quitting.

There are countless incentives to turn your back on smoking, and no matter what your reason for quitting, whether it be for the mountain of health benefits or for the safety of your loved ones, the NHS wants all quitters to know that they are not alone, and there are lots of brilliant resources out there to help on their way to make smoking history.

Below are some top tips for quitting effectively.

If you’re not already quitting, try working your way up to a quit date. By setting a quit date, you give yourself the chance to gradually reduce the amount of cigarettes you smoke each day, and to put in place all the systems of support you might need to help you on your journey.

Making a pledge and committing to a date can help you stay focused and give you the time you need to prepare for the big day. It also gives you a realistic time-frame to put yourself in the mental