33% success rate.

[nonico]

According to the data I have, 33% of all January quitters stayed quit for 1 year. For 1 in 3 people to stay quit for 12 months I think is magnificent.

Given that generally the success rate is 6% it's not bad going.

I'm assuming the 33% is the same for all posters on this forum; I'm sure the data can be extrapolated to include everyone.

So, what reason would you give to new quitters as to why the success rate for this forum is so high, and why they should join the forum?

[nsd_user663_54562]

support whenever u need it

Hi there,

I think this forum is so sucessful because its so accessible. I am literally using this forum on my mobile phone....so I can read and post pretty much any time I want. I've done the nhs stop smoking course where you attended weekly group meetings. And that was great. Educated me and prepared me about my quit, and offered support to a degree and felt part of a team. But here we re so much more of a team with much more personal exchanges and helping one another. At the no smoking classes we were all embarking on a quit. But here I love that we are all at different stages. And all help one another. I really think this forum or similar should be promoted to people wanting to quit! I consider myself extremely lucky and thankful I stumbled accross it! I've said before and ill say again....there is no way my quit would have lasted thus far without this forum!!!

Xxx

[nonico 7 Years Smoke Free]

Good point

Hi sarahgum

Yes, I think that's a good point that we are all at varying stages of our quit, and hence we get the "full story." Also, we can check into the forum at any time to refocus our mind.

There was a successful writer on the TV a while ago, and years ago she was an alcoholic. She said that every now and again she returns to an AA meeting at what ever city she happens to be in so that she remains alcohol free. She said she needed the interaction with other alcoholics.

Maybe this forum has the same type of function. Maybe AA meetings could be conducted on the internet now.

[nonico 7 Years Smoke Free]

Got me wondering.

Hi Karri

All points agreed with especially the fact that not only are we supported but educated on this forum.

You've got me wondering about the 6% success rate that is the official figure. I can think of two big industries which have a vested interest in having us believe that is it very difficult to stop smoking: NRT industry and tobacco industry.:confused:

Yes, it makes no difference whether the stop smoking method is via NRT or CT, and that puts the NRT industry in a strange situation when it comes to their advertising strategies.

[Hidden]

And the most important stat is that which applies to each of us alone.

We're either 100% successful, or we're 0% successful with a given quit. We either succeed or we don't with regard to a specific quit.

I was 0% successful any number of times, but this time I'm 100% successful to this point.

[nsd_user663_53202]

Hi nonico, thank you for the work you have done in monitoring the January quitters and compiling the stats.

One reason I think this forum helps is the shared experience. For a smoker who decides to quit there are four categories of people: Never smokers, ex-smokers, smokers, and quit-nows.

Never smokers: do not understand what quitting is about

Ex-smokers: would rather not talk about smoking

Smokers: definitely do not want to talk about quitting

Quit-nows: .........where are they?

Unless you can find someone else to quit with you, you are on your own. Also, no-one is interested in talking about your quit. Now this would be fine if quitting was easy and only took 5 minutes. However, as we all know it isn't easy and takes a lot longer. Thus I think the ongoing support, and opportunity to discuss and share is critical in releasing the stress that builds up, and in reducing the likelihood of caving in.

[nsd_user663_54332]

Thanks for putting the figures together Nonico, it's a lot more encouraging than 6%!!

Think the forum is a huge help, there's plenty of people on here who are either at the same stage as you or that bit further ahead to giv encouragement and that's really helped me through my bad times. Without that I'd probably have started smoking again :eek:

I agree with Biggrin, have got a quit buddy and she's great *but* I don't want to go on to her about it all the flipping time. We've helped each other loads though 'cos we share an office and where we work most of the other girls smoke - it would have been really tough!!

But, my friends either smoke so don't want to talk about quitting (wouldn't have either when i smoked) or they never have so can't see what all the fuss is about!! Worse are the couple of social smokers I know who really don't "get" it. My parents are very anti-smoking (partly why I started back then :rolleyes: ) so although they're delighted I've quit they don't understand either, think they were expecting me to be a bit grumpy for a week then get back to normal :eek:

So coming onto here and being able to ask for help, let off steam and most importantly see that there *is* light at the end of the tunnel is a huge help!!

Everyone's so friendly and happy to help and that's lovely