For Karen, quitting smoking was about far more than giving up cigarettes. As a single mum raising her son on her own, she knew she wanted to do everything she could to protect her health and be there for him in the years ahead.
Although Karen had tried to quit smoking before, this time felt different. After smoking for more than 30 years, she admits she wasn't convinced she would succeed, telling her advisor, "I didn't think I would be able to stop smoking, but I wanted to give myself the best possible chance this time."
With support from Yorkshire Smokefree Barnsley and her stop smoking advisor, Sarah, Karen started taking Varenicline (a prescription stop smoking medication). She says the medication exceeded all of her expectations.
"I couldn't believe how well it worked for me."
Like many people who stop smoking, Karen missed the familiar hand-to-mouth action of smoking. She initially found an old nicotine vape and began using it, believing it would help her stay smokefree. During one of her appointments, Sarah explained the NOPE rule – Not One Puff Ever – after day 14 of taking Varenicline, and why continuing to use nicotine could prevent the medication from working to its full potential.
Understanding how Varenicline works was a turning point.
"When Sarah explained it all to me, it made perfect sense. I stopped using the nicotine vape straight away and switched to a nicotine-free vape instead, which really helped with the hand-to-mouth habit."
Karen says this advice gave her the knowledge and confidence she needed to stay on track.
Since quitting, Karen has noticed improvements not only in her own health but in her son's too.
"My son's allergies have improved now that I'm no longer smoking around him. I'm so pleased I don't do that anymore."
Being smokefree has also opened up new opportunities. Instead of planning holidays around buying cigarettes, Karen can now spend that money on making memories with her son.
"I can now plan to travel abroad whenever I want, afford a better-quality holiday, and I don't have to worry about buying cigarettes on the way home."
Looking back, Karen says the support she received from Yorkshire Smokefree made all the difference.
"I've sadly lost faith in some services over the years, but the support I received from Yorkshire Smokefree really worked. Sarah was so supportive and helped me through everything."
Today, Karen is proud to be smokefree and grateful for the healthier future she is building for both herself and her son. Her story shows that with the right support, expert advice and determination, even after more than 30 years of smoking, it's never too late to quit.
Congratulations on your quit, Karen. You've done so well!
