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Ex-smokers adopting

MerryBerry August 30, 2019 15:14

Hi! I wanted to ask whether anyone has got some experience of this or know how it works. We have been taking first steps to adopt a couple of years ago but we were straight up told we will not be accepted because my partner was a social smoker. We took some time out and he actually has now quit smoking but is occasionally vaping. He quit smoking by himself without any help of GP etc therefore even though there is a previous record of him being a smoker in his health records, there is nothing to say he is now smoke-free. Was this a mistake? Should we he had gone to GP to declare his quitting so that there is at least something to prove this? I wonder whether this will cause problems? Or will he just be required to do some tests that will prove he is not a smoker?

Any advice will be appreciated :)

Edited 17/02/2021
Safia August 31, 2019 11:28

I think you just need to be honest - why wouldn’t they believe you - unless they see evidence to the contrary or you’ve been dishonest about anything else. Make sure you’ve thrown any ashtrays or anything like that out. Maybe next time you’re at the GP for anything else just mention it to and it should go on your record. I think you should have the attitude you’ve done something really positive to make an important lifestyle change and listened to advice and meet them with confidence (but not arrogance)

I was never a smoker but my husband was and we were approved despite this (over 20 years ago now) just with the advice that he should give up

Edited 17/02/2021
Pedro September 1, 2019 07:56

Hi. I was also a social smoker before adopting. When we decided to start the adoption process back in 2017 I hadn’t smoked for 3 months. Our social worker told us that we wouldn’t be able to adopt until I got it sorted. At the time, I went to my GP and he told me that he couldn’t do anything about it (for example, suggesting that I use nicotine patches as I hadn’t smoked for a few months and it would be counterproductive). I wrote to the social worker and her manager to explain that I had given up smoking on social occasions and that I went to my GP to get it sorted. This was accepted and we started the adoption process. I think at the time they also wanted to see how I reacted to this challenge and how proactive I was (this was not the only challenge we found during the process - I think you will find a few ‘tests’ along the way so it’s important that you keep an open mind and demonstrate to social workers that you are resilient and remain proactive along the way).

Edited 17/02/2021
Scott C-R September 3, 2019 10:42

Hi there.

Obviously you will be required to complete a medical during the process. If it is of concern to you, then you could offer to see the cessation team at your practice - they will be able to help, and can do a Co2 test which will help the GP to be able to confirm smokers status.

Hope that helps in some way.

Scott

Edited 17/02/2021

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