Should we pay for people to quit smoking?

[Gromit]

The NHS is to pay �163 for a course of drugs to encourage people to stop smoking. At the same time, they are denying funding of some drugs to treat Alzheimer's and cancer.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml =/news/2007/05/31/nhs31.xml

[Oakleaf51]

It would be money well spent as preventative medicine. I take it you are not a smoker, if that is correct, have a little sympathy for those of us who are and who find it incredibly difficult to give up. No amount of scaremongering will get people to stop, as the craving is stronger, we need all of the help we can get. And of course, we've paid loads of taxes for the privelege of damaging our health haven't we?

[sp1814]

Yes.

You mention that they are denying funding of some drugs to treat Alzheimers and cancer...well, the fewer smokers there are, the more money there will be to spend on those suffering from Alzheimers - because there will be considerably less people developing smoke-related cancers.

It's all good.

I guarantee that if smokers heard that there was a treatment which could triple their chances of quitting, they'd be falling over themselves to get their hands on it.

Its what non-smokers want too.

Surely everyone wins???

[Pippa68]

Seems like a good idea to me. Quite a few smokers I know want to give up not just because of their health, but because the no longer want to swell the government coffers with the tax spent.

I am wondering how this tax will be replaced, as I fear that if everyone gave up smoking there may well be even less money for Alzheimers and cancer.

[libertie]

Surely helping people to kick the habit can only be a good thing! The way I see it is, that the fewer people who smoke the better for them, their kids (if they have any) and the health service! Who knows maybe even the fire service will save a few bob!

[stokeace]

if people can afford to smoke they can afford their OWN treatment to stop.if they smoke say 40 a day at a fiver a packet they would be able to fund their treatment after just over a week.there are far more deserving cases to be paid for by the nhs.

[Haggisdj]

I'm with stokeace on this. Smokers chose/choose to smoke, people with Alzheimers, etc. have no choice. Radio 5 Live reported that the treatment cost 1.95 a day. Smokers could pay for this and still be quids in...

[stokeace]

they would be able to pay for their own treatment after just a fortnight not a week my maths isnt to good 2day lol

[flip_flop]

So where would you draw the line stoke and haggis?

What about fat bloaters - should they have to pay for their own gastric bands or other related obesity treatments?

Should drug addicts have to pay for their own treatment?

Let's use your analogy and go one step further - I choose to play rugby and football, if I break my leg (which has happened in the past. twice) should I have to pay for my treatment? After all, I knew the risks and yet still chose to take those risks.

Strikes me that �160 odd quid is a small price to pay to help smokers kick the habit.

I'm a non-smoker

[rabbitygirl]

Tried everything to persuade 27 year old son to quit. Coughs dreadfully. Dont think he quite has the will yet. Agree with posts here that everyone wins if a smoker quits and this is a fairly cheap course isn't it? Dont get me started on NHS cuts, postcode lottery, free prescriptions in certain other countries.etc. What I would ban is NHS paying for removal of tattoos. Anyone having a tattoo would have to sign to say at own risk and no way NHS pays to have it removed. Now I've got myself all cross.

[stokeace]

flip flop accidents happen dont they?its not an accident when someone puts a cigarette in their mouth is is?thats self inflicted as is the various cancers that occur and the inevitable heart disease that follows of course they will continue to get treatment on the nhs but if they want to pay for these tablets to stop their habit they should fund it themselves after all its for their own benefit in the long run.some people literally want looking after from the cradle to the grave and thats the problem some people dont want to do anything for themselves or take responsobility for their own actions...........if you smoke and develop smoking related diseases its tough you knew the risks.

[jake-the-peg]

Put your mind at rest rabbity

Tatoos are very rarely available on the NHS.

There was an incorrect report that came out of government saying that millions had been spent on this.

Later there was an admission that this was total rubbish

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/lords/?id=2006-1 0-25b.1207.3

I'd imagine the press didn't rush to splash "No tatoo removal on NHS" across the papers.

[jake-the-peg]

duh


that should of course have been tatoo removal is very rarely available on the NHS

[flip_flop]

So presumably stoke, its not an accident when fat people put a cream cake in their mouth is it? Or when they develop heart disease or their heart gives up the ghost becuase it just can't cope with heaving that much blubber about, or they develop diabetes etc etc etc...

So is that tough? - after all, they knew the risks.

I'm assuming you agree that fat people should pay for their gastric bands?

[stokeace]

of course flip flop most obesity is self inflicted

[flip_flop]

OK, fair enough.

[kwicky]

As the course of treatment is only for a short period why don't the smokers pay for it themselves? That �163 can't be many packets of fags to forego!

[lafrancaise]

As a smoker who gave up 2 years ago; if you REALLY want to stop you can. It's hard and it hurts especially for the first 2 days but when you know this and know it gets easier you take each hour then each day as it comes. The thing is; never have 'just one' or even a puff of one.
I can't honestly see how someone can stop after a �163 course as that's being helped. A smoker has to feel they've fought this battle on their own if they want to win it once and for all.
How often will the NHS fork out these �163 courses for someone? Once every year? cos it'll take a few attempts being helped in my opinion.

[prattler]

the fact is smokers start smoking at a young age and become addicts before they know the dangers and long-term consequences of smoking.Only the non-smokers dont appreciate how much of a hard addiction to kick smoking is.Beleive me, the government wont be listening to you whingers when there's a real chance of saving the NHS billions on smoking-related illnesses in future.It's money well spent for a change!

[stokeace]

i wouldnt say im whingeing prattler but why should my hard earned cash be wasted on people who havent got the will power to quit smoking when there are much more deserving causes for medical treatment?

[Bazile]

Wasn't there some evidence unearthed that some maufacturers were initially deliberately adding an ingredient to the cigarettes that they knew full well made them extremely addictive ?

I seem to recall that they supressed the research which showed the above, for a long time .

Does any one recall this - or am I totally mistaken ?