In the UK the NHS offer vouchers to quit smoking
By scorpio19
@scorpio19 (1363)
February 11, 2009 9:15am CST
Children as young as 10 are being offered £15 shopping vouchers to quit smoking under an incentive scheme run by the NHS in Brighton
There are two schemes; one offering pregnant women who quit smoking a £5 voucher for Asda or Co-Op.
The second incentive involved offering youngsters under the age of 18 who quit, a £15 voucher for WHSmith, Argos, Boots or the Body Shop.
Can you honestly see this working because in my mind isn't it full of flaws, I mean what's to stop the kids and women starting again once they have received the vouchers or even, kids starting smoking to get the vouchers.
What do you think and do you think it will work ?
1 person likes this
3 responses
@city_girl21 (68)
• United States
11 Feb 09
I don't think it'll work, smoking is too addictive to quit over a small money incentive. And they would probably start smoking again after receiving the voucher anyway. Plus some kids may start smoking just to get vouchers - dumb, but true. I think the money could be better spent on things that will actually benefit the economy.
1 person likes this
@scorpio19 (1363)
•
11 Feb 09
Hi city_girl21,
i think whoever thought it up, looked more at how it will look on the country helping their teens rather than the flaws in the scheme it's self.
@tamarafireheart (15384)
•
11 Feb 09
Hi scorpio,
Its not good giving them this voucher, that voucher, what they need is help to kick the habit, I smoke, and when I first started smoking I was 27 and now is very hard to just give up, yes maybe some people can but I can't, NSH should do more then had out vouchers especially pregnant wowen, they should really help them because of their unborn babies. Love and hugs.
Tamara
@scorpio19 (1363)
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11 Feb 09
Hi Tamara,
I agree it's a flawed scheme and whoever thought it up must see that it is. More resources should be given to occupying kids, take them off the streets.
I know my son loves football and doesn't want to smoke because it's drummed into him by his coach, how unhealthy it is and no one can be a professional footballer if they light up, which seems to be enough to deter any young boy especially when he dreams of been David Beckham, so what I'm trying to say is that they should use a kids dream and spend the money on that and give them hope for a better future which I feel would be a better deterrent.
@littleowl (7157)
•
13 Apr 09
Hi Scorpio, that is news to me, it is an amazing idea to do that but it won't stop people smoking, you are right about people starting again after they have the vouchers..I did stop when I was pregnant for 15yrs, but it took one just one trauma and I started again! So the answer to your question is a resounding NO I don't think vouchers will have any impact at all..it takes strong willpower to stop..that I don't have now so will continue smoking til I decide to stop...hugs littleowl
