Making the decision to stop smoking is a crucial step towards enhancing your health, regardless of your age or smoking history. Nicotine addiction, stemming from its presence in tobacco, often complicates the process of quitting smoking. However, there are effective treatments available to support your journey towards quitting. Consider counseling, which can help you in planning your quit date and offer tips to combat withdrawals.
You Can:
- Talk to a quit smoking counselor individually or in a group.
- Get free confidential coaching through a telephone quitline (1-800-QUIT-NOW).
- Use free online resources like CDC.gov/quit and Smokefree.gov.
- Sign up for free texting programs like SmokefreeTXT.
- Use a mobile app like quitSTART.
Medications can be helpful in managing withdrawal symptoms and cravings, which in turn helps you to stay motivated to quit.
You Can:
- Use Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)
over-the-counter forms: patch, gum, lozenge
prescription forms: inhaler, nasal spray - Talk to your Healthcare Provider About Using a Pill Prescription Medication
varenicline
bupropion - Combine Medications
Use a long-acting form of NRT (nicotine patch) together with a short-acting form (such as nicotine gum or lozenge). Compared to using one form of NRT, this combination can further increase your chances of quitting.
If you are prepared to embark on your journey to quit smoking, consider reaching out to a quitline coach at 1-800-QUIT-NOW or consulting with a healthcare professional. These individuals can offer guidance in determining the most suitable treatment for your needs and facilitate your connection to various quit smoking programs and resources. It’s important to bear in mind that persistence is key to success, even if you’ve attempted quitting before. Encouragingly, more than half of U.S. adults who smoked have successfully quit, highlighting the attainability of this goal with determination and support.
Reference: https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/quit_smoking/how_to_quit/index.htm
