Tips for Quitting Smoking

• Set a date to quit and stick with it.
• Change your environment.
• Get rid of all cigarettes and ashtrays in your home, car, and place of work.
• Don't hang out in the same places where you used to smoke.
• Don't let people smoke in your house or around you.
• Get lots of support.
• Make a pact with a friend to quit at the same time.
• Go to smoke enders support groups.
• Get individual, group, or telephone counseling.
• Tell all your friends and family you are quitting and ask them to help you by not smoking around your and/or leaving cigarettes around.
• Tell your doctor.
• Have an excuse to tell your friends. For example:
• "The doctor told me to stop"
• "I can't, I have asthma"
• "It was making me feel sick"
• "I can't run as well during sports"
• "I'm getting a job where they don't allow smoking"
• Change your routines.
• Chew gum, take up a videogame or do something that uses your hands when you feel the urge to smoke.
• Drink tea instead of coffee.
• Take a different route to school or work.
• Start exercising more so you don't have to worry about your weight.
• Drink lots of water.
• Pick an activity to do at the times you used to smoke like after meals or during half time of games.
• Set up some rewards for yourself for every week you don't smoke like going to a movie with the money you save.
• Put up a sign to remind yourself of the bad effects of smoking in the places you used to smoke.
• Ask your doctor for medicine that can take away the urge. The FDA has approved 5 medications to quit smoking.
• Bupropion SR-Available by prescription
• Nicotine gum-Available over-the-counter.
• Nicotine inhaler-Available by prescription.
• Nicotine nasal spray-Available by prescription.
• Nicotine patch-Available by prescription and over-the-counter.
• Medication doubles your chances of quitting and quitting for good.