Help to stop smoking in Ireland

Smoking can affect your health. You may be addicted to smoking if you cannot control your need to smoke. If you are living in Ireland and want to stop smoking, you can get free support to quit from the Health Service Executive (HSE).

Read about:

• The health benefits of quitting
• Protecting your family from second-hand smoke
• Smoking facts and figures

Vaping

Vaping (using e-cigarettes) and cigarettes both deliver nicotine into your body. The HSE has information about vaping.

The HSE does not recommend vaping as a way to stop smoking.

You can get support suited to your needs when you sign up to the HSE Quit Plan.

You can also get help to quit using:

• 1-to-1 sessions at a HSE stop smoking clinic in your local area
• Group support sessions such as the We Can Quit group
• Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT)
• Prescription treatments from your GP
• A Quit kit from the HSE(posted to any address in Ireland)

You can get free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) from the HSE. These medicines give you a low level of nicotine without the poisons from tobacco smoke. You can get nicotine replacement therapy as:

• Patches
• Gum
• Lozenges
• Inhalers
• Mouth sprays

How much does nicotine replacement therapy cost?

You can get free nicotine replacement therapy through:

• A stop smoking adviser who can arrange for you to get it through your GP or a participating pharmacy
• The HSE Quitline on 1800 201 203
• Your GP if you have a medical card

Nicotine replacement therapy is not appropriate for some people.

Find more on choosing a type of nicotine replacement therapy.

Prescription medicines for quitting smoking

Your GP can also prescribe prescription medicines to help you stop smoking. Unlike nicotine replacement therapy, these prescription medicines do not contain nicotine.

Prescription treatments to help you stop smoking are usually not free. However, the Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS) can help you with the cost of prescription medicines.

The HSE Quit Plan aims to help you stop smoking for good, even if you have tried quitting before. The Quit plan is free and runs for 7 to 12 weeks.

You can sign up yourself. You do not need a referral from your doctor.

Talk to a trained HSE Quit Advisor before starting

You can talk to a trained quit advisor in person or over the phone before you start. Your Quit Advisor can assess your smoking habit and your lifestyle, help you identify the support you need and set a quit date.

The quit advisor will tell you if you need to speak to your GP or pharmacist.

To start the free HSE Quit Plan, you can:

• Call Freephone 1800 201 203.
• Sign up online
• Sign up online for your Quit Plan

What happens during the HSE Quit Plan

During the free HSE Quit Plan you can get:

• 1-1 support in person, over the phone or online
• Daily support by email or text message
• Free nicotine replacement therapy if appropriate
• Access to a support group with group sessions
• Check-in calls to discuss your progress:
  • Weekly for the first month
  • 3 months after you quit
  • 12 months after you quit

Find more about the support available to help you quit smoking.

If you are a young person trying to quit vaping or smoking, you can join the HSE Quit4Youth programme. It runs for 7 weeks. You will get support from a stop smoking advisor and other young people who want to quit vaping or smoking.

Ask your GP about the Quit4Youth programme in your area.

If your child vapes, the HSE has advice and information for parents.

Read the Quit 4 Youth handbook (pdf) from the HSE.

The HSE has advice on how to avoid smoking, even on hard days, how to help someone else quit smoking and information on smoking and mental health.

The HSE’s Environmental Health Service governs smoking in the workplace and sales of tobacco to minors.

Read further information on addiction support in Ireland.