A study by researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine shows that a simple text message can help smokers give up the weed. 

The control group received fortnightly text messages thanking them for taking part in the trial.

The trial, called txt2stop, involved 5,800 people. They were randomly allocated to the txt2stop programme or a control group. The txt2stop group were sent five text messages a day for the first five weeks, then three per week for the next 26 weeks. A personalised system allowed people to receive instant messages at times of need by texting the word 'crave' or 'lapse'.

The text messages were developed with input from smokers and 'smoking cessation professionals', and were designed to encourage smokers to persevere and focus on their success so far. Two sample messages are:

This is it! - QUIT DAY, throw away all your fags. TODAY is the start of being QUIT forever, you can do it!

and

Cravings last less than 5 minutes on average. To help distract yourself, try sipping a drink slowly until the craving is over

The study results showed that after six months the txt2stop group were significantly better at abstaining from smoking with a 10.7 percent success rate as opposed to a 4.9 percent rate for the control group. The txt2stop concept worked as well for all ages and social groups.