Smoking and risky behaviour

4) Smoking

2 teenagers at the skate park

© Crown copyright

Is your child exposed to smoking? If so how are they exposed?:

  • Active? Is your child smoking?
  • Passive? Is there someone at home who smokes when your child is in the house?
  • Friends? Are they being exposed to second hand smoke from their friends?
  • Family? Are they exposed to smoke when visiting other family?
  • Does your child like smoking?
  • Has your child tried E-cigarettes? Have they tried cannabis or other drugs?

What is the effect on asthmatic lungs?

  • Cigarette smoke is a trigger for your child’s asthma.
  • Smoking can reduce the effect of inhaled asthma medicine.
  • Long term effects of smoking are well known but short term effects of smoking include increased heart rate and blood pressure due to release of adrenalin. Nicotine causes the brain to release dopamine a chemical in the brain which creates an addictive response. The more you smoke the more short nicotine hits and the more addictive smoking becomes.
  • Cigarette smoke also contains thousands of chemicals, poisonous tar and gases. Many are know to cause cancers not only in the lung. Other parts of the body can be affected as the chemicals enter the blood supply.
  • The long term effects of using E-cigarettes is not yet known. They contain nicotine and are often flavoured to attract young users.

You can get help and advice for your teenager on how to stop smoking. This should be given to both the teenager and you, their family.

NHS Lothian

South East Edinburgh
Telephone Number: 0131 672 9532
For Stop For Life in South East call 0131 672 9532 or text/call 07800 776 327

South West Edinburgh
Telephone Number: 0131 537 7154
For Stop For Life in South West call 0131 672 9532 or text/call 07800 776 327

North East Edinburgh
Telephone Number: 0131 536 6247
For Stop For Life in North East call 0131 536 6247 or text/call 07881 517 317

North West Edinburgh
Telephone Number: 0131 552 8671
For Stop For Life in North West call 0131 536 6247 or text/call 07881 517 317

East Lothian and Midlothian
Telephone Number: 0131 537 9914
For Stop For Life in East Lothian and Midlothian call 0131 537 9914 or text/call 07771 975 453

West Lothian
Telephone Number: 01506 651 829
For Stop For Life in West Lothian call 01506 651 829 or text/call 07867 502 884
If you are a young person please text or call 07969 530 266

NHS Lanarkshire


For information and advice about stopping smoking contact the stop smoking service Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm on 08452 177 707 or text 81066.

NHS Ayrshire and Arran

For information on how to stop smoking, call free on 0800 783 9132, or email [email protected]. Telephone support service Freephone: 0800 783 9132

NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde

Smokefree services run in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde are available under one name, one place and one freephone number – 0800 84 84 84 (9am-9pm).

NHS Dumfries and Galloway

The Smoking Matters Service offers smokers throughout Dumfries and Galloway help in stopping smoking.
0845 602 6861
Email: [email protected]
By post:
The Smoking Matters Service
Garden Hill Primary Care Centre
2 Gardenhill Road
Castle Douglas
DG7 1EE

NHS Borders

NHS Borders Quit 4 Good: 0844 8118180 (local rate call office hours Monday- Friday 24 hour answer machine)
Email: [email protected]

NHS Fife

Stop Smoking Services on 0800 025 3000.
The groups are very relaxed and informal and are run by trained staff. They are suitable for anyone who wants to give up: heavier smokers may find this intensive support especially helpful. The group support provides an opportunity for quitters to share how they are getting on – their ups and downs – and provide general encouragement. The groups run for about 8 weeks on average.
Two new group support sessions have been set up, one on Wednesday evenings at Glenrothes Hospital, and the other on Thursday afternoons at Pitteuchar Health Centre.
Individual support sessions with a trained adviser are available in a number of local GP practices and community venues and are available at different times, including evenings. The support consists of a 7-12 week programme of support to help you stop smoking, plus advice on medication such as NRT and Champix®.

NHS Tayside

Throughout Tayside, community groups, stop smoking classes and one to one support is available from GPs and Pharmacies. In Dundee, the Dundee Healthy Living Initiative also provides stop smoking sessions. For more information or to book a place please phone the Tayside Smoking Helpline on 0845 600 9996

NHS Grampian

NHS Grampian Smoking Advice Service on free phone 0500 600 332. Helpline open Monday to Friday: 9.00 a.m to 5.00 p.m. E mail [email protected]

NHS Highland

NHS Highland Smoke-Free Service
Telephone: 0845 757 3077
Website: www.smokefreehighland.co.uk

NHS Orkney

For an appointment or informal chat please call 01856 888084 or 07500121900

NHS Shetland

To make an appointment, or for further advice, call 01595 80 7494
Come to your nearest drop-in clinic LERWICK Gilbert Bain Hospital Outpatients Wednesday 6-7pm and Health Improvement Department, Grantfield Thursdays 12-1.30pm.
Walls Health Centre 12 – 2pm and 4-6pm every Tuesday
Ollaberry Hall 3-6pm every Tuesday

NHS Forth Valley

Falkirk Stop Smoking Clinics
Drop-in Clinics Every Wednesday 5.30pm – 7.30pm Camelon Health Centre
Champix Clinic. The Champix Clinic is run by trained pharmacists who can prescribe Champix without the need to visit your GP. Every Wednesday 5.30pm – 7.30pm St Ninians Health Centre

Stop Smoking Groups
Denny Carronbank Health Centre Tuesdays 5.30-7.30PM
Grangemouth Health Centre Mondays 5.00 – 7.30pm
Meadowbank Health Centre and Slamannan Clinic Mondays 5.00-7.00pm
Redding & Westquarter Community Group Tuesdays 5.30 – 7.30pm
Slamannan Surgery Wednesday 5.30 – 7.30pm
Stenhousemuir Health Centre Thursdays 5.30 – 7.30

Stirling Stop Smoking Clinics
Drop-in clinics Every Wednesday 5.30pm – 7.30pm St Ninian’s Health Centre

Clackmannanshire Stop Smoking Clinics
Drop-in clinics Every Tuesday 5.30pm – 7.30pm Clackmannanshire Community Healthcare Centre

NHS Western Isles

Health Promotion Department 1 Bank Street, Springfield Road Stornaway HS1 2XG
Tel: 0800 848484 (free) / 01851 701 623 / Helpline: 01851 701623 / Chat online 7 days a week 8am -10pm
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.canstopsmoking.com/local-help/western-isles-quit-smoking-service
Smoke Free Hebrides provides free confidential, advice, help and support to anyone in the Western Isles who would like to quit smoking. We offer one-one, group, telephone, text or email at times suited to the needs of each individual. Why not contact us?
Lewis and Harris 01851 701623
Uists 01870 602588
Barra 01871 810895
CHSS supports the Charter for a smoke free generation in Scotland by 2034 to protect young people and support positive health choices.

CHSS supports the Charter for a smoke free generation in Scotland by 2034 to protect young people and support positive health choices.