The Smoke Free app: Giving you the motivation you need to quit smoking
Motivation is key to quitting smoking – but thankfully, there’s an app for that!
Giving up smoking is hard, but the biggest challenge is staying smoke free. Dr David Crane, creator of the Smoke Free app, explains how it can help you.
Society tends to think of giving up smoking as finding the motivation to make the decision.
That is hugely important, of course, but experts understand you most need motivation when you really, really, want that cigarette you’ve been denying yourself. Which can happen weeks after you’ve quit.
That’s when you most need someone to tell you that you’re doing well, that the craving will pass and that there are lots of good reasons why you shouldn’t give in.
Saving lives one quit at a time
For six million people worldwide, that reassuring support has come via our app. It’s humbling to think how many lives have been saved and improved. That’s the power of putting support and motivation in people’s hands.
At the heart of the app is a reward system. We want you to see all the ways you’re gaining from quitting. One idea we love is putting the money you used to spend on smoking in a jar each day and buying a treat for yourself when you’ve made it a month smoke free.
These rewards are powerful incentives and our research shows how well they work, but there are also times when you’ll need support.
We all have moments of stress and anxiety, and our own moments of weakness. But before giving in to that one cigarette, you will probably ask yourself: “Should I?”.
When you’re at that crossroads, reach out to us. It’s entirely anonymous, the advisors never see you and will never judge you. All they will be is encouraging.
We don’t just tell you “you shouldn’t”. We explain why, give you tips to stay strong, and reassure you that this moment will pass.
The numbers say this app can work for you
The app’s assistance is multi-layered. There are 33 behaviour change techniques based on psychological theories and built into tools which academic studies have found to be effective.
Underpinning the technology are 21 human advisors available 24/7. Each advisor has on average 15 years of experience and has worked with smokers from all backgrounds.
In Greater Manchester, since 2020, Smoke-Free has resulted in 8.6 million cigarettes NOT smoked. That’s over half a million completely smoke-free days (and a small mountain of butts!)
We know that 40% of users across the region have successfully quit smoking for a month. And if people quit for 28 days they’re five times more likely to stay smoke-free for good.
If you’re going smokefree, you should use all the help available. In Greater Manchester that includes an extensive range of local services. Using support isn’t cheating, it’s smart.
It’s not easy but we’re here to help
My advice is simple – keep going and use support. You’re trying to change an addiction and that’s not easy. It takes most people multiple attempts before they are successful, but if you keep going you will be too.
Stopping smoking is one of the biggest challenges people face. Which also means you’re going to feel really good when you succeed. Not just because you’ll feel healthier and have more money, also because you’ll know how strong and capable you are.
That’s why we tell people – reach for the app. Not the cigarette.
If you live in Greater Manchester, visit www.smokefreeapp.com/GM to download the app and receive full access to all premium features in the app FREE for six months (worth £60). T&Cs apply.