Quitting smoking is a permanent lifestyle change, and achieving that change is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. However, there is a great deal of evidence that smokers who have a plan to quit achieve the highest rates of success.
Experts at Cleveland Clinic’s Tobacco Treatment Center work with patients to develop a smoking cessation plan just for them. They emphasize that although smokers hear stories about people who just toss their cigarettes in the trash one day, never to smoke again, very few people actually succeed this way.
Center Director Iyaad Hasan, MSN, CNP, emphasizes that "most smokers don’t plan to fail, they fail to plan."
He strongly advises patients to go to tobacco treatment centers that follow the scientifically proven pattern of combining medications and behavioral therapies with counseling. He recommends group counseling because it helps smokers meet and receive support from others who are facing the same struggle. one-on-one counseling is available for people who prefer it and may be recommended for certain individuals.
An example of behavior therapy would be adding walking into a daily routine. Walking improves health and offers an activity that doesn’t involve smoking. "Even just walking around the house while you are talking on the phone helps," he says.
Also, Mr. Hasan recommends finding a program that offers long-term follow-up to help prevent relapses. He offers these tips to help smokers set themselves up to succeed:
- Make a pact with yourself and make quitting your top priority.
- Pick a date for quitting completely.
- Think of all the reasons you smoke and all the reasons you should quit. Chances are, the list of reasons to quit is much longer. Write down your three most important reasons to quit and look at them several times each day or when you smoke.
- Look at the locations, situations, emotions or people that trigger you to smoke. Before quitting, eliminate or limit your exposure to the three strongest associations you have with smoking.
- Reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke each day and/or change to a brand that you do not like as much. For example, if you enjoy menthol cigarettes, smoking ones without menthol will be less appealing to you.
- Discard your lighter. Matches are harder to use and will remind you of your commitment to smoking.
- Carry your cigarettes in a different place, further breaking your usual patterns of behavior.
- Seek support from family and friends or someone else who wants to quit.
- Spend a little time each day picturing yourself in stressful situations without smoking. In time, you will be more prepared to deal with these difficult situations.
- Work with your healthcare provider to create a personalized plan or ask for a referral to a tobacco treatment center.
WEB EXTRA! Smoking Pill – Millions of Americans each year try to quit smoking and can't. A drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration may be able to help. View or download this podcast.
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This information is provided by the Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. This document was last reviewed on: 4/1/2008…#14132
