It has been estimated that every year around a third of smokers attempt to stop, and there are significant benefits in doing so. Giving up smoking €“ or even cutting down on the number of cigarettes smoked each day €“ can dramatically increase a person's chances of living a longer and healthier life, and it reduces the risks of secondhand smoke to others.

Cigarette smoke contains around 4,000 chemicals. One of these is nicotine, the drug that causes cigarette addiction. It affects different areas in the brain, resulting in effects including an increase in heart rate and a change in mood. These effects only last a short time, so between cigarettes, a smoker can feel anxious and irritable.

Within a day of stopping smoking, nicotine withdrawal can cause a variety of unpleasant symptoms that can be difficult to manage. These include:

• Changes in mood €“ feeling depressed, irritable, etc.
• Feelings of restlessness and lack of concentration
• Sleeping difficulties
• A decreased heart rate
• An increased appetite.

Withdrawal from nicotine is the aspect of quitting that makes many people relapse. However, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued guidance that describes how to help those who either don't want to give up smoking altogether or feel they aren't ready for this step. Called 'tobacco harm reduction', this approach involves using nicotine-containing products (NCPs) for as long as needed to cut down or stop cigarette use, on either a temporary or more permanent basis.