Never having smoked I was pleased to have the opportunity to purchase the Isis Stop Smoking franchise, originally for 'North of the South Island' but subsequently the whole of the South Island.
This was (and is) a wholly psychological based programme, based on group dynamics and enables participants to give up completely over the period of only one week!
The course (which was always run by a qualified director – yes I became one) had been developed at Otago University and worked really well.
It started on a Tuesday, with the first of the two hour daily sessions covering all the techniques to be taught over the next week.
This session was free without pressure on participants, at the end of the session they decided if the course was indeed, for them.
Wednesday started in earnest, participants were given a book full of information and description of the techniques to be taught.
A cassette tape was also part to the package. Daily reduction cards were a vital part too.
Thursday we taught meditation (actually my first experience of it). One side of the tape is a really good meditation too.
Friday night we all 'went to the pub' because for so many smokers their most 'difficult' time is when out drinking – to show you can go drinking without smoking was most successful.
This night was often the highlight of the whole course.
For the weekend we not only set up 'buddy' systems, but a short targeted walk (out and faster back) was set as 'homework'.
Monday was the final 'wrap up' by which time about 80% would have achieved the goal, the others may need another day or so to do it. Certificates were supplied as a continuing reminder of their achievement
Needless to say this whole operation was completely computerised, from sending all the necessary promotional material, through to managing registrations, and the all important statistics.
We had our own seminar room (seated about 15 people) but also did courses on Company's premises, and for out of town communities too.
At one stage I was taking a Company course during the morning. Somewhere else in the afternoon and yet another in the evening – either at our own base or somewhere 'out of town'.
I still have my manual, and a copy of the tape but have been unable to locate a copy of the book as yet.
So with Isis being so good why has it not become 'the next best thing'?
A couple of reasons.
Firstly the medical profession did not back us because there were no drugs involved.
Secondly you will have heard the phrase that 'if it seems too good to be true it probably is', this counted against us too. With an 80% success rate over a week, authorities(who were aiming for between 5 - 10% over a year) simply wrote us off as 'charlatans' ?
I endeavoured to counter these allegations, but our costs kept rising and numbers gradually fell away.
I also endeavoured to contract to run the stop smoking Quitline but again was not successful.
It would, in my opinion be really good if this programme could 'come again;
Isis Team
