Government's Free Quit Kit

[Perpetua]

Launched this week.

www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/DG_183622

Can't help but think that instead of a week's free supply of nicotine patches, a couple of decent disposable ecigs would have been a better use of revenue and helped smokers considerably more.

A great opportunity gone missing.

[Scylla]

Agreed

[jimmybat]

that would be far too sensible and save a fortune and save liefs ...why would the government want to do any of those things....it dont line their pockets

[Chrissie]

And of course where would Big Pharm's profit in it be if they had handed out e-cigs instead ?

[ken]

Dec 28, 2010 7:49:59 GMT Perpetua said:

Launched this week.

www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/DG_183622

Can't help but think that instead of a week's free supply of nicotine patches, a couple of decent disposable ecigs would have been a better use of revenue and helped smokers considerably more.

A great opportunity gone missing.

Agree Perpy, but the only loser as usual is the tax payer who will watch while the government spend 250 million of their taxes on something that does not work.

The anti-smoking lobby and the majority of non smokers who have the biggest vote will say bravo to our government look at the good job they are doing saving lives and clearing these lepers off our streets. >

Its all a big game really and as has been discussed in the past do the government really want smokers to quit? ???

Of course they don't as they need the revenue so why hand out ecigs.

The winners are the government who are satisfying the majority and the big Pharma who have signed a very lucrative contract to supply.

At the end of the day the smoker will go back on the ciggies and the game goes on.

[Chrissie]

Dec 28, 2010 16:40:02 GMT ken said:

Dec 28, 2010 7:49:59 GMT Perpetua said:

Launched this week.

www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/DG_183622

Can't help but think that instead of a week's free supply of nicotine patches, a couple of decent disposable ecigs would have been a better use of revenue and helped smokers considerably more.

A great opportunity gone missing.

Agree Perpy, but the only loser as usual is the tax payer who will watch while the government spend 250 million of their taxes on something that does not work.

The anti-smoking lobby and the majority of non smokers who have the biggest vote will say bravo to our government look at the good job they are doing saving lives and clearing these lepers off our streets. >

Its all a big game really and as has been discussed in the past do the government really want smokers to quit? ???

Of course they don't as they need the revenue so why hand out ecigs.

The winners are the government who are satisfying the majority and the big Pharma who have signed a very lucrative contract to supply.

At the end of the day the smoker will go back on the ciggies and the game goes on.

Very well said Kenny!

[Perpetua]

Completely agree all, it's a lip service operation to the likes of ASH and the rest . . saw an interview with a couple of ladies who had tried patches . . . and as they quite rightly said, it's the staying off cigs long term that's the real problem.

Blooming frustrating that so much money is effectively going to be wasted in this PR exercise.

And, another thing that gives me the pip whilst I'm having a soap box moment, is the way the 'cost' of treating smoking related illnesses is broadcast at every available opportunity, how much in taxes have smokers paid for any treatment received. >

[Stan]

They could have given me a year's supply of patches and I still would have smoked.

Forty quid for a Tornado and I have quit.

QED

[Stan]

Dec 28, 2010 20:54:40 GMT Perpetua said:

And, another thing that gives me the pip whilst I'm having a soap box moment, is the way the 'cost' of treating smoking related illnesses is broadcast at every available opportunity, how much in taxes have smokers paid for any treatment received. >

Absolutely right perpetua - and don't forget if you buy life insurance, if you say you are a smoker you will pay much more (because they assume you will die younger) - yet if you buy a pension - you don't get a discount !!

[Perpetua]

Couldn't agree more on both your posts Stan, gets my goat big time the way smokers are treated like some social pariahs, rather than people who could actually be helped if they wished to quit.

[Scylla]

Trouble is with patches and gum, for them to work you have to want to give up. E-cigs work for smokers who don't want to give up.

scylla

[ian]

I could not agree more Scylla.I tried patches,gum,inhalators and pills,none of them worked.I am now cutting down on vapeing,which is very easy as all smokers cravings have now subsided.Its took me months to get to this stage,but without my e-cig arsenal i could never have quit.

[Scylla]

I just had to phone doc's cos blood pressure tabs ran out (I must have thrown away a packet with some in ). Anyway, at end of convo she said "Before you go, I need to record whether you smoke or not" so I bent her ear good and proper. She (a young French/Asian) had never heard of electronic cigs She was very impressed, kept asking for confirmation that there was no tobacco in them, then asked that I bring some with me next time I'm there. As if I wouldn't My Screwdriver's always hanging around my neck and I know I've shown it and a Mini to at least 2 of the docs in the practice.

scylla