Nicotine is a very addictive, but don’t let that stop you from quitting. Half of all people who have ever smoked have quit. You also know smoking isn’t healthy.

• Smoking kills more Americans than all other drug use deaths, homicide, suicides, auto crashes, fires and AIDS combined.
• Smokers’ chances of getting cancer are 10 times greater than a nonsmoker.
• Smokers are twice as likely to have a heart attack than a nonsmoker.

There are other costs as well – like money, smelly clothes, yellowed teeth, etc. Despite the costs, quitting is still tough. Maybe you’ve tried to quit before - great! It usually takes three or more tries before finally being able to quit; studies show that each quit attempt makes you stronger and teaches you more about what helps/hinders your efforts.

How You Can Quit

Three methods work, and you have the best chance of quitting if you use them together.

1. Use some type of medication/nicotine replacement therapy, which will lessen some of nicotine withdrawal symptoms.
2. Get support and encouragement. Family, friends, and health professionals can offer encouragement and support in your effort to quit. A health educator is available to give you tips on quitting as well as provide you needed support. We’ve found that students who have only a couple of sessions to talk about helpful tips and the quitting process say it helps.
3. Learn how to handle smoking urges. Certain people, places, and things may give you an urge to smoke - being around other smokers, getting into an argument, feeling stress due to time pressure, etc. A way to handle a smoking urge is to distract yourself from thoughts of smoking. You can do this in many ways - talk to a friend, get busy with another task, exercise, drink plenty of water, change your routine, or use relaxation techniques like taking deep breaths.

If you can see yourself being able to quit using tobacco within the next 30 days contact Health Promotion at 513-3295.

Web-based Smoking Cessation Programs

Telephone-based Smoking Cessation Quit Line

Pharmacological Smoking Cessation Products