Help on Quitting Smoking
Smoking cessation tips
There are many ways to quit smoking and for some it's simple.
But many people need help and there are many resources available
to help people quit smoking for good. The following information
may provide you with useful tips on how to get started.
Methods of quitting
1) Toll-free telephone quit-smoking lines
Quit-lines offer support from trained cessation specialists to
help smokers quit, free of charge. They provide support for family
and friends who want to help a smoker quit and you can order self-help
materials as well. Please see the toll-free
quit lines available across Canada, by province.
2) Nicotine replacements and medications for quitting smoking
include the following:
- Nicotine patch;
- Nicotine chewing pieces (gum);
- Bupropion (an antidepressant to help people with nicotine withdrawal);
- Nicotine inhalers; and
- Nicotine nasal spray
3) Community-based cessation programs or counselling services
Contact your health care provider or nearest community health
representative to locate available quit smoking counselling/support
programs in your area.
4) Self-help materials and manuals or unaided attempts to quit
5) Quit by Email
Health Canada's free, quit-smoking e-Quit
program will support you through the process of quitting,
one day at a time. By subscribing for one month, they will send
you a new e-mail each day for the next 30 days. e-Quit will prepare
you for your quit date, 11 days from your first e-mail. The messages
will support you through the entire quitting process. They will
help you on your way to a better, healthier, tobacco- free life.
6) Internet QuitNet programs
Internet quit smoking programs provide interactive, web-based
support services to individuals who want to quit smoking and may
desire support through the internet. Users may browse the site
for information about quitting or register to gain access to  QuitNet's
set of tailored support features.
5 steps to quitting
Studies have shown that these five steps will help you quit and
quit for good. You have the best chances of quitting if you use
them together.
1. Get Ready
- Set a quit date
- Change your environment
- Get rid of ALL cigarettes and ashtrays in your home, car, and
place of work
- Don't let people smoke in your home
- Review your past attempts to quit. Think about what worked
and what did not.
- Once you quit, don't smoke-NOT EVEN A PUFF!
2. Get Support and Encouragement
Studies have shown that you have a better chance of being successful
if you have help. You can get support in many ways:
- Tell your family, friends, and co-workers that you are going
to quit and want their support. Ask them not to smoke around
you or leave cigarettes out.
- Talk to your health care provider (for example, doctor, dentist,
nurse, pharmacist, psychologist, or smoking counsellor).
- Get individual, group, or telephone counselling. The more counselling
you have, the better your chances are of quitting.
Programs are given at local hospitals and health centers. Call
your local health authority for information about programs in your
area.
3. Learn New Skills and Behaviours
- Try to distract yourself from urges to smoke. Talk to someone,
go for a walk, or get busy with a task.
- When you first try to quit, change your routine. Use a different
route to work. Drink tea instead of coffee. Eat breakfast in
a different place.
- Do something to reduce your stress. Take a hot bath, exercise,
or read a book.
- Plan something enjoyable to do every day.
- Drink a lot of water and other fluids.
4. Get Medication and Use It Correctly
- Medications can help you stop smoking and lessen the urge to
smoke.
- Bupropion SR-Available by prescription.
- Nicotine gum-Available over-the-counter.
- Nicotine patch-Available by prescription and over-the-counter.
- Ask your health care provider for advice and carefully read
the information on the package.
- All of these medications will more or less double your chances
of quitting and quitting for good.
- Everyone who is trying to quit may benefit from using a medication.
If you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, nursing, under
age 18, smoking fewer than 10 cigarettes per day, or have a medical
condition, talk to your doctor or other health care provider
before taking medications.
5. Be Prepared for Relapse or Difficult
Situations
Most relapses occur within the first 3 months after quitting.
Don't be discouraged if you start smoking again. Remember, most
people try several times before they finally quit. Here are some
difficult situations to watch for:
- Alcohol. Avoid drinking alcohol. Drinking lowers your chances
of success.
- Other Smokers. Being around smoking can make you want to smoke.
- Weight Gain. Many smokers will gain weight when they quit,
usually less than 10 pounds. Eat a healthy diet and stay active.
- Don't let weight gain distract you from your main goal-quitting
smoking. Some quit-smoking medications may help delay weight
gain.
- Bad Mood or Depression. There are a lot of ways to improve
your mood other than smoking.
- If you are having problems with any of these situations, talk
to your doctor or other health care provider.
Cessation resources
Some of the following hyperlinks are to sites of organizations
or other entities that are not subject to the Official
Languages Act. The material found there is therefore in the
language(s) used by the sites in question.
Tobacco-A
Cultural Approach to Addiction and Recovery for Aboriginal Youth
A manual for the smoker seeking help in recovering from tobacco
addiction, for Adolescents and young adults, published by the Nechi
Institute
Tobacco
Addiction and Recovery - A Spiritual Journey - Help for Smokers
Aboriginal adults and adolescents. A manual for the smoker seeking
help in recovering from tobacco addiction.
"On
the Road to Quitting"
A Step by Step Guide to Quitting Smoking
Helping
Smokers Change
A Resource Pack for Training Health Professionals
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