Stop Smoking

Information and support on how to stop smoking

Barking and Dagenham Stop Smoking services offers FREE confidential support for anyone living, working or studying in Barking and Dagenham aged 12 and above.

When you stop smoking, you can begin to see almost immediate improvements to your health.

It's much easier to quit when you get the right support and there are lots of options available from:

  • 1 to 1 support with a 'Stop Smoking' advisor both face-to-face and online
  • support at your local pharmacy 
  • or via the 'Stop Smoking' telephone line.

Giving up smoking is good for you and your family’s health and finances and can reduce your risk of developing serious illnesses including cardiovascular disease, respiratory conditions and cancer, meaning you can live a longer healthier life.

Did you know that You’re 5 times more likely to quit for good when you combine expert support with quit smoking aids like nicotine replacement therapy or a vape or a vape? 

Swap to Stop 

If you are over 18 and a smoker you can sign up for a free vape kit bundle and free 8 weeks behavioural support to increase your chance of quitting tobacco.

Register here: Swap to Stop

Stop smoking

Register for an appointment with a stop smoking advisor

The Stop Smoking service can provide Barking and Dagenham residents with free advice and support to quit:

  • Please complete the registration form to book an appointment with one of our advisors. Once your request has been received you will receive a booking link to select an appointment that is convenient for you.
  • If you need help to complete the form please email  healthy.lifestyles@lbbd.gov.uk or call 020 8724 8018

Registration form

The service offers:  

  • weekly Nicotine Replacement Therapy/or vape
  • Behavioural support to help you to quit
  • telephone and/or digital support

face-to-face support available at a location near you

Stop smoking helpline

NHS

The NHS stop smoking service has information about the benefits of quitting smoking, and where to get help locally.

NHS stop smoking

Stop Smoking London (SSL)

Stop Smoking London are here to help you on your stop smoking journey. Stop Smoking London will provide advice about how to stop smoking and to access information on:

  • understanding your triggers and how to manage them
  • your reasons for wanting to quit
  • benefits of stopping
  • how to quit guides
  • smoking and pregnancy

Visit the StopSmoking London website or call the Smoking Helpline on 0300 123 1044. The helpline is available seven days a week at the following times:

  • Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm
  • Saturday and Sunday, 11am to 4pm

Stop smoking support at your local pharmacy

The addresses of pharmacies where you can speak to a stop smoking advisor are grouped together by postcode.

Pharmacy Address Phone number
Britannia Pharmacy Thames View Health Centre Barking IG11 0LG 0208 594 3369
David Lewis Pharmacy 16 Porters Ave Dagenham RM8 2AQ 0208 592 1557
Thomas Pharmacy 19 Ripple Road Barking IG11 7NN 0208 594 2148
Kry-Ba Pharmacy 21 Gorsebrook Road Dagenham RM9 6XA 0208 592 4904
Lloyds Pharmacy 281 Wood Lane Dagenham RM8 3NL 0208 592 1613
Mastaa-Care Pharmacy 26 Whalebone Lane South Dagenham 0208 592 2497
Day Night Pharmacy 17 Station Parade Barking IG11 8ED 0208 591 0889
Oxlow Lane Pharmacy 217 Oxlow Lane Dagenham RM10 7AY 0208 595 8527
Sandbern Pharmacy 703-705 Green Lane Dagenham 0208 590 4407
Waller Pharmacy 279 Heathway Dagenham RM9 5AQ 0208 592 2934

Smoking and your health

Smoking health risks

There are many health risks associated with smoking. Smoking increases your risk of serious illness. This includes cigarettes, Shisha and Cannabis.

Did you know smoking causes around seven out of every 10 cases of lung cancer (70%) Smoking causes cancer in many other parts of the body, including the:

  • mouth
  • throat
  • voice box (larynx)
  • oesophagus (the tube between your mouth and stomach)
  • bladder
  • bowel
  • cervix
  • kidney
  • liver
  • stomach
  • pancreas

Smoking is very harmful to the cardiovascular system (the heart and the blood vessels that carry blood around your body), which has many negative impacts on health and increases your risk of developing conditions such as:

  • coronary heart disease 
  • heart attack
  • stroke
  • peripheral vascular disease (damaged blood vessels)
  • cerebrovascular disease (damaged arteries that supply blood to your brain)

Smoking also damages your lungs, leading to conditions such as:

  • chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which incorporates bronchitis and emphysema 
  • pneumonia 

Smoking can also worsen or prolong the symptoms of respiratory conditions such as asthma, or respiratory tract infections such as the common cold.

It can also reduce the fertility of both men and women.

Find out more on the NHS website.

 

Health risks of Second-Hand Smoking

Breathing in other people's smoke is known as exposure to second-hand smoke or passive smoking. When you smoke, it's not just your health that's put at risk, but the health of anyone around you.

Facts about second-hand smoke:

  1. It moves - most second-hand smoke comes from the tip of a burning cigarette. This makes it incredibly difficult to direct smoke away from those around you. If you smoke in one area of your home the harmful chemicals will spread quickly from room to room. 
  2. It lingers – when you smoke indoors, the harmful chemicals can linger for up to 5 hours
  3. It’s invisible - more than 80 per cent of second-hand smoke is invisible and has no smell
  4. It puts kids at risk - children are especially vulnerable to second-hand smoke as they breathe faster than adults and therefore take in more harmful chemicals in second-hand smoke. This can put children at risk of bronchitis, asthma attacks, meningitis, ear infections and cot death. 
  5. It puts pregnant women at risk – pregnant women who are exposed to second-hand smoke, are at an increased risk of complications during the pregnancy and after the birth. Second-hand smoke can reduce your baby's birthweight and increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), also known as "cot death".

Find out more on the NHS website.

Stop smoking health guide

Stop Smoking My Quit Guide (PDF,13.01MB)