The NHS will offer a ‘stop smoking’ pill to thousands of people in England who are trying to quit the habit.
According to NHS England, the pill – known as varenicline – has been shown to work as well as vapes to help people stop smoking. It also says it is a more effective aid than nicotine-replacement gum or patches.
The drug works by reducing cravings for nicotine and blocking its effect on the brain. It also helps to alleviate withdrawal symptoms such as feeling irritable or having difficulty sleeping.
The daily pill is now set to be offered to tens of thousands of smokers each year in England.
Health and social care secretary Wes Streeting said: ‘Prevention is better than cure. The rollout of this pill can save the NHS millions of pounds, save appointments to help other patients be seen faster, and save lives.
‘Taken alongside our Tobacco and Vapes Bill, the government and NHS are building a healthy society to help power a healthy economy.’
NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard says the move to use varenicline comes as part of a major NHS drive to make more effective treatment options available for patients. It is predicted that it will cost more than £500 million in savings for the taxpayer.
Banning smoking outside schools
This comes as the government introduces the Tobacco and Vapes Bill in Parliament, which includes banning smoking outside of hospitals and schools.
It also includes plans to gradually phase out the sale of tobacco products to create a smoke-free generation by banning the sale of tobacco products to those currently aged 15 or younger.
The government aims to make the UK the first country in the world to eradicate smoking by raising the legal age to purchase cigarettes by one year every year until no one can legally do so.
The bill also includes plans to extend the indoor smoking ban to specific outdoor spaces, such as children’s playgrounds and outside schools and hospitals, to protect those vulnerable to secondhand smoke.
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