Scott, from Rotherham, started smoking when he was 17. What began as curiosity – watching friends and family smoke – soon became a 25-year addiction. 

Last year he quit smoking with help from his local stop smoking service, showing that  it is never too late to quit.  

“I grew up around smoking. My mum smoked, my grandad smoked, and most of my friends  smoked. I always wondered why, and eventually my curiosity got the better of me. That’s  why I tried my first cigarette. Before I knew it, smoking was part of my routine and part of  my identity. 

“Smoking was easy for me – I’ve always worked outside, so I didn’t have to wait for breaks – I could smoke whenever I wanted. It was easy for me to smoke 20 to 25 cigarettes a day.” 

Scott, who turns 50 next month, knows first-hand the harm smoking can cause. His  mum was diagnosed with COPD in her 50s and sadly passed away around 20 years  later.  

“I watched my mum die from COPD which was caused by smoking. She struggled a lot and  it wasn’t nice to see. I didn’t want my kids to go through that. I didn’t want them – or my  grandkids – to see me that way, or for me not to be around for them. 

“Smoking started taking its toll on my health soon after. I was always coughing – sometimes so hard I nearly blacked out. I’ve even broken ribs from it. I’m currently being  assessed for bronchitis, and I knew continuing to smoke could lead to COPD. That’s when  it really hit me – I had to do something if I wanted to be there for my family.” 

Like most people who quit, Scott had tried to quit before.  

“During COVID, I tried using my local stop smoking service, but it was all over the phone. I  was given patches, but they didn’t work for me. At work, I’d end up asking the lads for a  cigarette, and before I knew it, I was back smoking. 

“Last year, I went back to the service but this time I used Varenicline. My advisor, young  Sam, was brilliant from the start. We got on well and those appointments kept me  accountable. I knew he’d be checking my CO levels, and I didn’t want to let him down.” 

Since quitting, Scott has experienced an improvement in his health and daily life.

“My lungs have cleared up a lot, and I feel so much healthier. But it’s more than that – I am  so much more present. I don’t have to stop games halfway through to go outside to smoke,  I don’t leave the table when we’re at a restaurant for a family birthday, and I don’t have to  delay playing games with my grandkids to have a cigarette first. You don’t realise how  much time you spend in the garden until you get that time back.” 

Scott is encouraging others to quit smoking too.  

“My attitude used to be that stopping was for quitters – I was stubborn when it came to  quitting and I didn’t like people telling me what to do. 

“Now all I can say is that I was wrong. Quitting is, not to be cheesy, but it is lifechanging – it  changes how I behave, how I spend my time and the quality of my life.  

“It’s not as hard as you think – especially with the right support. Take advantage of the help  that’s out there and just give it a go.”