Smoking is the leading cause of preventable illness and premature death in Northern Ireland.
The good news is that it is never too late to stop smoking. Your body begins to recover from the moment you quit, and the health benefits continue to grow over time.
Stopping smoking can:
Every smoke-free day is a positive step towards better health.
Stopping smoking can be challenging, but you don't have to do it alone.
Visit Stop Smoking NI to find local support, access expert advice and discover practical tools that can help you quit successfully.
People who use stop smoking support are up to four times more likely to quit successfully than those who try to stop without support.
Find support near you today Stop Smoking NI.
More than 500 stop smoking services are available across Northern Ireland through GP practices, community pharmacies, hospitals, workplaces and community settings, making it easier to access free support close to home.
In 2024/25:
These results show that with the right support, many people successfully stop smoking every year.
Smoking rates remain highest in our most deprived communities. Working with partners across Northern Ireland, the Public Health Agency aims to reduce smoking-related harm, improve health outcomes and tackle health inequalities.
The Public Health Agency helps people stop smoking by:
Visit Stop Smoking NI to find support near you.
Your health begins to improve sooner than many people realise.
After stopping smoking:
Every smoke-free day benefits your health, and every quit attempt brings you closer to quitting for good.
Stopping smoking benefits not only your own health, but also the health of the people around you.
Second-hand smoke can increase:
Creating a smoke-free home and smoke-free car is one of the best ways to protect children, babies and other non-smokers from harmful tobacco smoke.
Stopping smoking at any stage of pregnancy can benefit both parent and baby.
Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of complications including miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth and low birth weight.
If you are pregnant and would like support to stop smoking, specialist help is available at Stop Smoking NI.
Children exposed to tobacco smoke are more likely to experience health problems including asthma, chest infections and ear conditions.
Supporting smoke-free environments helps give children a healthier start in life and reduces their exposure to harmful smoke.
Stopping smoking can improve both your health and your finances.
Someone who smokes 20 cigarettes a day could spend more than £5,000 a year on tobacco.
For many people, quitting smoking means having more money for everyday essentials, family activities and other priorities.
As well as improving your health, becoming smoke-free can bring immediate financial benefits.
You do not need to stop smoking on your own.
Free local support is available across Northern Ireland to help you manage cravings, stay motivated and become smoke-free.
This booklet takes smokers through the stages of stopping smoking - preparing to stop, stopping, and staying stopped.
This card highlights the fact that smokers are four times more likely to quit successfully if they have support and signposts the public to the website www.stopsmokingni.info where they can find over 550 free stop smoking services available in Northern Ireland.
