Posted on: 15 October 2025

Meet Marek - a student who quit smoking after 10 years with support from the Breathe Stop Smoking Service, a free and flexible programme run by friendly CNWL healthcare professionals in partnership with Camden and Islington Council.

In this interview, Marek shares how the service helped him break free from addiction – and why he’s never looking back.

Tell us a bit about yourself

"I’ve been living in London for seven years and I’m originally from Estonia. I’m studying at the Open University. I joined Breathe in December 2024 and on Friday, I’ll be six months smoke-free."

When and why did you start smoking?

"I started when I was about 14. I never made a conscious decision to start smoking  - my friends just all smoked, so I tried it. I liked the taste and it stuck. I was under a lot of stress from school and home, and smoking became a release."

How did smoking affect your health and social life?

"I’m very active, but I couldn’t run or even walk up a hill without getting out of breath. I had high blood pressure, constant headaches, and ‘black death’ on my gums, or dental calculus. It also worsened my acne, which really affected by self-image. I’d wake up feeling like a heavy cloud was over me. It impacted by mood, my health, and my self-image."

What made you finally decide to quit?

"I’d been thinking about quitting for years. The headaches were awful and I wanted to get back to working out and sleeping better. This time, I decided to ask for help – for the first time with something like this."

What challenges did you face when quitting?

"Everything reminded me of smoking! Coffee, socialising, drinking, it was all linked. I stopped having coffee because it triggered cravings. I avoided friends who smoked and drinking, because I knew I’d have a cigarette. The first few weeks were tough – no sleep, mood swings – but it was so worth it!"

How did you successfully quit?

"I had to change how I saw myself. I also was prescribed varenicline, a medication that made cigarettes taste awful. That helped me stay away long enough for my brain to rewire itself. It completely removed the pleasure from smoking. Even if I had a cigarette, it tasted horrible and didn’t give me the nicotine hit. That made it easier to say no. I avoided temptations and focused on becoming the person I wanted to be."

How has your life improved since quitting?

"Massively! I can work out again, my skin is better, my mood is more stable, and my head feels clearer. No more gum problems. I just feel a lot lighter. I have had to distance myself from people I used to smoke with, so I’ve been spending more time alone, but I know the right people will come. It was a necessary sacrifice for my health – and it was worth it."

What advice would you give to others trying to quit?

"Keep trying. Don’t give up. It took me years. And ask for help – Breathe offers so many options, so you can try different things to see what works. I used to try to do it alone, but having support makes a huge difference. And don’t let shame stop you. We all fall. The shame – both internal and from others – can make it harder, but you deserve to try again, and again, and again if you need to."

What difference did Breathe make in your quitting journey?

"My Breathe advisor, Surbhi, kept me accountable. She held up a mirror for me and reminded me I had a duty to myself. She was also the only person who supported me through this journey. She told me she was proud and encouraged me to keep going. That meant everything, especially when you don’t have it from friends or family.

Breathe showed me all the options that are available and reassured me that it’s okay if something doesn’t work, there is always something else you can try. That flexibility and support helped me believe in myself. I also met others on the same journey, which made me feel less alone. It’s a personalised, supported service, and that’s what makes it so powerful."

If you would like support to stop smoking for good, visit the Breathe website for more information and to prepare a plan that helps you kick the habit.