Guest Column: Commit To Quit Smoking For New Year's

By Joan Rubel
Berkshire Tobacco-Free Community Partnership
02:01PM / Tuesday, December 27, 2011

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Each year the decision to quit smoking remains one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions. In a recent survey by the state Department of Public Health, 77 percent of adult smokers in the state say they want to quit and the New Year’s holiday provides many of them with the fresh start needed to quit for good.

Quitting smoking will be hard but there are ways to make it easier. If you’ve made the decision to quit smoking in 2012, try these five steps to improve your chances of quitting for good:

1. Make a quit plan. Decide on a specific date when you will quit. If you’ve tried to quit before, use your past experience to think about what helped you the first time and what you’ll do differently this time. Visit makesmokinghistory.org to learn more about creating a quit plan.

2. Know your triggers. Triggers are certain times, places, people, or feelings that make you want to smoke. Common triggers include: stress, drinking alcohol, driving, and after eating a meal. Plan ahead to deal with your triggers.

3. Get support from family and friends. Think about who you want to tell about your plans to quit smoking. Ask them for positive support and encouragement. Think about how they can help, whether it’s going for a walk, calling you, or if you’d rather they didn’t make a big deal of it, tell them that too.

4. Get help from a trained professional. Using counseling support or Federal Drug Administration-approved medicines can make you twice as likely to quit for good. Ask your insurance provider what types of benefits you are eligible for or ask your pharmacist about over-the-counter stop-smoking medicines. You can also get free support through the Smokers’ Helpline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669).

5. Don’t give up. If you slip and smoke a cigarette after your quit date, it doesn’t mean you have failed. Many smokers have to try several times before they quit for good. Remind yourself of the reasons why you want to quit and keep moving forward with your plan.