‘We can Quit’ smoking course is very effective for participants

PARTICIPANTS in a local quit smoking programme were presented with their certificates in Brookfield Community Centre, Tallaght, this month.  

“We had the celebrations Tuesday gone by. We are happy to say that nine participants have quit smoking,” said Samantha Griffin, co-ordinator Fettercairn Health Project, Tallaght.

Unfortunately, some of those awarded certificates could not attend the presentation.

The We Can Quit (WCQ) programme is nine weeks in duration and is free.

It is delivered by Fettercairn Health project in collaboration with South Dublin County Partnership and is funded by Sláinte Care Healthy Communities.

All participants get nicotine replacement treatment for free along with the support of the facilitators.

“Some people avail of patches, chewing gums, others use a type of vape, we work closely with Michelle O’Hagan of Pharmacy Hub.

“There is support all the way through the course, if anyone is struggling,” said Samantha, who facilitates the course.

“The facilitators on this programme, which is run twice a year in the Tallaght area, understand how hard it is to quit.

“It [the programme] is very effective, it’s run by ex-smokers.”

Even after the course finishes there is support available.

“There is aftercare with Alan McDonnell, Sláintecare who is based in Fettercairn. If you are finished the course Alan can give one-to-one support,” added Samantha.

“There is also support available from people in your group during the course.”

According to the WCQ programme, you are five times more likely to quit for good if you commit to quit for 28 days, get support to change your behaviour and use stop smoking medicines/ nicotine replacement treatments.

Your facilitator will ask you about your smoking history, assess your nicotine addiction and recommend treatment that might work for you.

The weekly group sessions are led by a local facilitator who is a trained stop smoking advisor.

The groups can be female only, male only or mixed. At the sessions, you can talk about any difficulties and slip-ups, swap coping tips and support each other.

Your facilitator will give you one-to-one support every week by phone or text at a time that suits you.

They will ask you how you are doing and answer any questions you have. They can also help you get back on track if you have a slip-up.

To support you to quit successfully, you can get a 12-week supply of stop smoking medicines for free.

Your facilitator can give you information and advice about the best stop smoking medicines for you.

They can also arrange for you to get stop smoking medicines for free through a participating pharmacy.

“Our next WCQ programme will be starting on Tuesday, October 1,” said Samantha.

Learn more about the Fettercairn Health Project and its community health services and support on its Facebook page HERE.