Promoting smoking cessation and treating tobacco dependence

Published on 21 Feb 2025

This ACE Clinical Guidance (ACG) highlights the importance of consistent support to aid smoking cessation, even for individuals who have previously quit successfully. The ACG provides evidence-based recommendations on advising all smokers on effective methods to help them quit and assessing their willingness to quit, individualised behavioural support and pharmacological treatment, timely follow-up and interventions to prevent relapse. QR codes to I Quit resources are interspersed where appropriate and a handy guide on NRT options is also included.

Download the ACG

Smoking cessation ACG (Feb 2025) [PDF]

ACG recommendations

1. Ask all patients about tobacco use and maintain an up-to-date record of their status.

2. Advise all people who smoke that effective methods to help them quit are available and assess willingness to quit based on their response.

3. Individualise behavioural support to maximise engagement and adherence to the quit plan.

4. Offer combination NRT (long-acting nicotine patch and short-acting NRT) or varenicline, alongside behavioural support.

5. Follow up within the initial weeks after the quit date.

6. Consider interventions to prevent relapse, such as extending pharmacological treatment and advising on coping strategies.

ACG references and EtR framework

Click below to see the list of references for the smoking cessation ACG.

Smoking cessation references (Feb 2025) [PDF]

The Evidence-to-Recommendation (EtR) framework is a document that outlines the underpinning evidence and rationale for the recommendations in our ACGs. Download the smoking cessation EtR framework below to learn more about factors that have informed the strength of the ACG recommendations, including certainty of evidence, clinical benefit/risk balance, local resource implications, feasibility considerations, patient preferences and values.

Smoking cessation EtR framework (Feb 2025) [PDF]