Addictions UK leads the way in offering Text Messaging as an important part of Addictions Recovery Therapy.
Supportive text messages can double the chance of someone successfully quitting smoking, according to UK researchers.
In an independent study, just over 10% of 2,900 smokers who received encouraging texts such as “you can do it” had quit after six months, but only 4.9% of a similar number who did not have the same support gave up.
The study, published in The Lancet, called for texts to be included in services to help people kick the habit. This study looked at 5,800 of them. Supportive texts were sent to 2,915 of the smokers for six months. The rest received only messages thanking them for taking part. They were sent five texts a day for the first five weeks and then three a week for the next 26 weeks.
Participants could also text back for specific advice when they had cravings or had lapsed back into smoking.
For further details of this study – www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-13956252
For several years Addictions UK has been using daily text messaging with clients – sometimes clients are sent up to three texts per day seven days per week.
Simon Stephens, Director of Case Work at Addictions UK said
“We are gratified to read in the Lancet about the therapeutic value of sending clients text messages as part of an overall treatment package. We agree with the findings of this study and intend to continue promoting this important part of our treatment services.“
Addictions UK is a leading provider of Home-based Addictions Treatment including Home Detox. For further details fill in the response form on our contacts page or telephone us on 0800 140 4044
