Helping a smoker quit: What to do and not to do
General hints for friends and family

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* Do respect that the quitter is in charge. This is their lifestyle change and their challenge, not yours. * Do ask the person whether he or she wants you to call or visit regularly to see how he or she is doing. * Let the person know that it’s OK to phone you whenever he or she needs to hear encouraging words. * Do help the quitter get what she or he needs, such as hard candy to suck on, straws to chew on, fresh veggies cut up and kept cold in the refrigerator, and so on. * Do spend time doing things with the quitter to keep his or her mind off smoking – go to the movies or take a walk to get past a craving (what many call a “nicotine fit”). * Do help him or her with a few chores, some child care, cooking – whatever will reduce the stress of quitting. * Do celebrate along the way. Quitting smoking is a BIG deal! * Don’t take the quitter’s grumpiness personally during his or her nicotine withdrawal. The symptoms will pass in about two weeks. * Don’t offer advice. Just ask how you can assist with the plan or program they are using. If your smoker relapses… Research shows that most people try to quit smoking five to seven times before they are successful. Don’t give up your efforts to encourage and support your loved one. If the person you care about fails to quit: * Do praise him or her for trying to quit, and for whatever length of time (days, weeks, or months)of not smoking. * Do encourage him or her to try again. Don’t say, “If you try again...” Say, “When you try again...” Studies show that most people who don’t succeed in quitting are ready to try again in the near future. * Do encourage him or her to learn from the attempt. Those things learned may help your loved one be successful in a future attempt. If you are a smoker… * Do smoke outside and always away from the quitter. * Do keep your cigarettes and matches out of sight. They might be triggers to smoke. * Don’t ever offer the quitter a smoke, even in jest. * Do make an effort to quit. It’s better for your health and might be easier to do with someone else who is trying to quit. Call the American Cancer Society at (800) 227-2345 to find out what resources might be available to you for your quit attempt. Source: www.cancer.org
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