- The American Cancer Society suggests that smokers who want to quit pick a "quit day." Smokers should obtain prescriptions for drugs they intend to use to help them quit, such as Zyban or Chantix. They should also decide whether they're going to go cold turkey or step down their cigarette usage by smoking less and less.
- A smoker who makes a public commitment to his quit day is more likely to succeed. The American Cancer Society also suggests joining a smoking cessation support group or talking with friends and family who have successfully quit smoking.
- Not only is nicotine addictive, but smokers' habits become ingrained over time. If you regularly smoked as soon as you got up, aim to find substitute activities, such as some yoga stretches, to fill that time. If you regularly took smoke breaks at work, substitute walks around your building as an activity instead.
- Smokers trying to quit may find it easier if they have access to things to fill the oral void. The American Cancer Society recommends sugarless gum, carrot sticks, hard candy, coffee stirrers or toothpicks.
- Avoiding friends and family members who smoke or places where you often smoked, such as outdoor restaurants, may be helpful while you're dealing with withdrawal symptoms and temptation. In time, you may be able to encounter these people or places without relapsing into smoking.
- The American Cancer Society also recommends that smokers trying to quit utilize a quitline, a phone number to call to get support and resources on smoking cessation.
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