THOUSANDS of Brits will be prescribed the best anti-smoking pill on the market under NHS plans to help them quit.
Varenicline will be available again in England and used in a big push by smoking clinics to stub out the habit.
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It had been unavailable since being pulled due to manufacturing issues in 2021.
There are six million smokers in the UK and experts reckon 85,000 per year could benefit from the once-a-day drug.
University College London research estimates 9,500 lives can be saved over five years.
It comes as ministers plan new laws to clamp down on smoking and vaping.
Stopping smoking is the best thing you can do for your health
Dr Ian Walker
Tobacco causes 16 types of cancer as well as heart diseases and dementia.
NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard will say in a speech today: “This simple daily pill could be a game-changer.
“It will help to save thousands of lives and save the NHS millions of pounds in treatment costs.”
Professor Nick Hopkinson, lung disease expert at Imperial College London, said: “This is fantastic news.
“Varenicline is the most effective smoking cessation medication, so the fact that it has not been available for the last few years has been a real problem.”
The drug will be offered alongside personal help and counselling to patients of NHS stop smoking services.
Patients can refer themselves for help online through the NHS website.
Stops buzz of cigs
Varenicline works by reducing withdrawal symptoms and blocking nicotine receptors so the brain does not get a buzz.
Studies suggest it works better than nicotine patches and as well as vaping – with one in four users successfully quitting.
Hazel Cheeseman, chief of campaign group Action on Smoking and Health, said: “Varenicline was never as widely available as it should have been – now it is hoped that many more people can be offered it.”
Dr Ian Walker, from Cancer Research UK, said: “Smoking is the biggest cause of cancer in the UK and stopping completely is the best thing you can do for your health.”
Health Secretary Wes Streeting added: “The rollout of this pill can save the NHS millions of pounds, save appointments to help other patients be seen faster, and save lives.
“The government and NHS are building a healthy society to help power a healthy economy.”
How does smoking increase your risk of lung cancer?
SMOKING cigarettes is the single biggest risk factor for lung cancer.
It’s responsible for more than seven out of 10 cases, according to the NHS.
Tobacco smoke contains more than 60 different toxic substances, which are known to be carcinogenic.
If you smoke more than 25 cigarettes a day, you are 25 times more likely to get lung cancer than someone who does not smoke.
Frequent exposure to other people’s tobacco smoke – known as passive or secondhand smoking – can also increase your risk of developing lung cancer.
Aside from cigarettes, the following products can also put you at risk of the disease:
- Cigars
- Pipe tobacco
- Snuff (a powdered form of tobacco)
- Chewing tobacco
- Cannabis (especially when mixed with tobacco)
Source: NHS
