Dh wants tobacco but is being shielded.

[MoonBaby1]

He is on of those to receive an NHS letter in the post advising him due to his medical condition he needs to practice shielding (like Uber isolation). He is running very low on baccy and wants some.

Whilst being not a fan of smoking I’m not unfeeling and understand addiction is addiction, however we are all isolating and haven’t left the house for over a week. He is understandably nervous/embarrassed to ask the amazing family members who have been dropping off shopping and meds.

Without it turning into an anti smoking bum fight what is the best outcome? He’s putting himself in grave danger of addiction gets the better of him and he ventures out, does he bite the bullet and ask someone or will I have to share close quarters with an already anxious, grumpy smoker going through nicotine withdrawal? (End game would be smoking cessation which would be wonderful but unlikely).

It’s lose/lose really.

Bottom line is s lot of people in UK are addicted to a lot of things. I imagine this situation will see an increase in alcohol dependency.

While it's all well and good saying addicts should just quit, in reality denying them when they are in a really hard situation just makes it even worse, and that may have consequences of its own.

Op he should ask for the tobacco if he wants it but he should try a vape again (although agree with pp it remains to be seen how safe vapes really are).

I tried vaping last year after around 30 years of smoking, couldn’t get on with it, it kept leaking etc. Then I tried again and it proper leaked while I was away. Managed to find a shop and got a different vape and had 18mg liquid. I haven’t looked back. He might have to try different vapes to find one that suits. I have the Joyetech exceed x and it is great. I have a couple more on order so if one breaks I have back ups. I feel so much happier and healthier - and of course richer.

The one thing I would say is that part of the process of giving up smoking is that the lungs begin to try to expel all the shit you've been breathing in for however many years whilst simultaneously becoming more sensitive to everything else.

Which means coughing. A lot of coughing. Takes a few weeks if I remember correctly, but it can be pretty bad.

I tried a couple from Amazon and they were a bit shit, v happy with the wicked one I've had for past couple months.

@MoonBaby1 - sorry no I read your post wrong. I thought he was still waiting for his letter.

Me, no I don't qualify. I am on 2 lots of blood pressure tablets to stop it rising so much that they need to hospitalise me and also blood problems where my corpuscles are too large and I lack oxygen but no, I dont qualify! I wish MN would do a hysterical laughing emoji!

I hate smoking but I’d get it for someone in my family without question. This all feels so undignified, people having to ask for and be judged on their purchases etc by volunteers.

I wouldn't be happy to be asked. He is isolating due to the risks, I wouldn't risk myself to get someone tobacco, addict or not. It's just rude.

I know that's harsh but it's how I feel.

Ok sure just for tobacco but this is part of a shop that's being done anyway.

Off licences are on the list of things that can stay open. There is an acceptance that people need certain things even if not good for them.

Would his GP practice not do a prescription for patches if he rang and asked? Also from what everyone is saying it's well worth giving vaping another try. I take the point that there are unknowns as yet about the risks, but then it's got to be better than actual smoking since that is so harmful, so it's at least going to be an improvement.

The problem is that in the height of any of my (legal) addictions if no one would facilitate it I would have broken out and got it myself. This is the risk of him running out.
I went through a really shitty stressful time a few years ago and I was smoking and drinking. When my life improved I was able to give up both with relative ease.

Taxi drivers or Uber if you don’t want to ask anyone

I'd not recommend trying to get GP appt over this at the mo when docs are do stretched!

Plenty of options op what's the plan.

I really don't see issue with adding it to list for the shop tbh

I haven't read the whole thread so apologies if I repeat or annoy anyone - I would get him his Baccy but also order a vape and juice and tell him he needs to ration between the two eventually getting onto just vaping. Don't just cut him off - it's a stressful time and difficult for everyone, if he knows it will be difficult to get baccy in the future he might take to vaping and wean off - hope it goes okay for you OP x

I talked through some options with him last night. Lots of good suggestions. He’s going to ask a friend when they next do an essentials run for us. I’m also ordering a selection of the above suggestions to find an alternative.

If I was shielding I would just go out and buy them myself if no one else would.

I made sure I had plenty in when things started looking a bit hairy, I bought 200 so that will keep me going for about four weeks. Costco deliver the big 100 boxes for a lot of brands if you’re a member.

Give up it's hard but he shouldn't be smoking many of us have had to give up yes it's hard but ffs just do it. No way would I have the absolute gall to say I'm vulnerable please put yourself at risk by shopping for me oh by the way it's for baccy

Don't be afraid to ask for it with your shopping

I don't like smoking but DH smokes I've given up pushing to quit because it doesn't work he wants to quit badly but like you say it's an addiction and right now his MH and stress is to bad to be able to quit and he's been advised not to put pressure on himself to do it in his current state

So I buy him cigarettes not because I agree but because I love him and choose my battles!

Order Niquitin-CQ-Patches-21mg patches from Amazon. They work!