CLOSING your company smoke room could be a breath of fresh air for your staff, business and profits.

Consulting with your staff about your plans will give them a chance to decide whether this could be the right time for them to stop smoking for good.

But they may still need time to adjust, and maybe support along the way.

You are more likely to stop smoking if you get the right support, and treatment such as nicotine gum and patches.

This can be four times more affective than will power alone.

You could join a free stop smoking clinic, such as those run by North Yorkshire Stop Smoking Service.

Sessions are run by an NHS specialist stop smoking advisor who will guide you along a treatment and support programme.

You will be helped to plan and prepare to quit, with information and expert advice. You can also seek help to get a prescription for nicotine replacement therapy or Zyban.

All doctors' surgeries in North Yorkshire have a trained Stop Smoking Advisor, and you can make an appointment at your practice.

Pharmacists can also provide information and advice. Although there are many different ways to stop smoking, everyone's experience is different and it is important to find a way which is right for you.

Nicotine replacement therapy is a useful and effective tool which comes in different formats and strengths. You can use the type that best suits you and your smoking habit.

Nicotine replacement therapy helps you to gradually wean yourself off the nicotine you were getting from cigarettes.

It stops you feeling so uncomfortable, is safe to use and is replacing a very dangerous habit - smoking.

Zyban is a tablet that can help smokers stop.

It works in a different way to nicotine replacement therapy, but like nicotine replacement it helps you through withdrawal from smoking.

Zyban can only be prescribed by a doctor, and there are some medical conditions where it might not be safe for a smoker to use.

Although some people are interested in trying alternative therapies, there is little clinical (or research) evidence of their effectiveness in helping people to stop smoking.

The two most popular forms are hypnotherapy and acupuncture, but if you decide to try alternative therapies, it is advisable to find a registered practitioner.

Margaret Hewitson, head of North Yorkshire Stop Smoking Service, said: "All the evidence shows that cutting down is much less likely to work than simply stopping completely.

"The last few cigarettes can be hard to give up and you will probably puff longer and harder on each one anyway.

"Even if you do manage to cut down, the numbers tend to creep back up again, so once you've planned ahead and chosen your date to stop it is better to stop altogether."

"Remember to take one day at a time - each day without a cigarette is good news for your health, your family and your pocket."

Ten steps to quitting smoking

MAKE A DATE and stick to it. Draw up a plan of action, considering what methods are available.

KEEP BUSY to help take your mind off cigarettes. Throw away ashtrays, lighters and tobacco.

DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS and keep a glass of water by you and sip it steadily.

GET MORE ACTIVE as exercise helps you relax and can boost your morale.

THINK POSITIVE. Withdrawal can be unpleasant, but it is a sign that your body is recovering.

CHANGE YOUR ROUTINE. Try to avoid the shop where you usually buy cigarettes. Ask your employer about introducing a no smoking policy and join the YES To Clean Air Campaign.

NO LAPSES. Don't use a crisis or even good news to be an excuse for a cigarette.

TREAT YOURSELF and use the money you are saving by not smoking to buy something special.

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU EAT. Try not to snack on fatty foods.

The NHS freephone Smoking Helpline 0800 1690 169 offers friendly help, advice and local information.

Updated: 10:28 Wednesday, July 27, 2005