Our QUIT team has helped 38 service users and staff to go smoke free in 2025. 

The QUIT team offers SHSC service users and people who work for us help to stop smoking or vaping. The QUIT programme recognises that smoking is an addiction, that often starts in childhood – not a lifestyle choice. Tobacco addiction is a preventable illness and there are very effective treatments for it.

Developed in partnership with Yorkshire Cancer Research, the QUIT team ensures that treatment for tobacco addiction is built into the routine care offered to every service user in our care. The service is also offered to people who work for us.

Service users and staff who take part in the QUIT programme are offered:

• 12 weeks of one to one behavioural support
• 12 weeks of free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT)
• Free vapes
• Tools to support an individual manage withdrawals and maintain motivation

Mohammed's story:

Mohammed is someone who is now smokefree after being a smoker for over 30 years.

Prior to stopping, Mohammed had been a smoker from the age of 11. Now, with the help of the QUIT team, he has succeeded in making one of the biggest positive changes he could do for his health. 

Mohammed had tried numerous times to stop smoking, with support from his GP, however, this wouldn’t last longer than a few months before he started smoking again. Mohammed was referred to the QUIT Team for help with his stop smoking support.

Mohammed’s wife and children were  his motivators and they wanted him to stop smoking due to bad breath, burning his clothes, carpets and the whole house smelling of cigarettes. 

Mohammed said: "My wife and kids are much happier that I’m now a vaper and not a smoker. They are happy I’m no longer burning my clothes and carpet. The children can now play with me, and we can now all stay together and have meals on the same table. Unlike when I was still smoking when my kids would stay clear from me and find me disgusting as I smelt of cigarettes all the time as did the whole house despite me smoking outside. My aggression has also reduced as I no longer get agitated. I am now calmer and loved by my family as I am now a different person since I quit smoking."

Mohammed has been receiving weekly support from James Campbell, QUIT tobacco treatment advisor and agreed to take part in the “swap to stop” scheme, a national initiative that provides adults who smoke with a free vape kit to help them quit smoking using a combination of a vape, nicotine patch and lozenges.

Although Mohammed admits he’s had some struggles, the support from QUIT and his own will power has proven beneficial on the Quit smoking journey.

“I have saved money, which I give to my kids as pocket money and my children, wife and family are all proud of me and not nagging about me smelling of cigarettes. They prefer me when I’m not smoking, and everyone is happy with me. I now go to mosque to pray every Friday and relax with my immediate and extended family."

James’s thoughts on Mohammed's QUIT journey:

James, QUIT tobacco treatment advisor, who helped Mohammed in his journey, said: "Mohammed and his family seem much happier now that he is a non-smoker. Mohammed is a perfect example of why smokers should quit smoking. I am very proud of Mo’s amazing achievement. Well done."

If you're not a SHSC staff member or service user but want to quit, you can find more information here. If you're a service user, please speak to your key worker to request a referral to the QUIT service.