University Health Service (UHS)
Health Promotion Office
STEP FOUR:
Getting Support
Now that the quit process has begun, times are going to be tough and temptation will be running high. Support is readily available for people trying to quit smoking, and there are many resources that can be used to help make quitting more feasible and less stressful.
- Family and Friends: Many former smokers say that they key of their support network was their family and friends in their community. Find people that you can confide in, those who want you to quit and will be there for you when the times are tough. If some of these people are smokers, make sure that they know that they cannot smoke around you.
- Your Primary Care Provider: Talk to your primary care provider about your plan to quit smoking. Make an appointment and bring a list of all of your questions. Do not be afraid of asking anything. Your primary care provider wants to help you quit smoking. Full-time students at the University of Rochester can schedule an appointment with their primary care provider by calling the University Health Service at 275-2662.
Some questions you could ask may include:
- How can you help me be successful at quitting?
- What medication do you think would be best for me and how should I take it?
- What should I do if I need more help?
- What is smoking withdrawal like? How can I get information on withdrawal?
Be prepared for your provider to ask you questions, as well. Make sure you are completely honest, and don't be afraid because the process will help you in the long run. It may help you to fill out the Tobacco Use History - Self-Assessment. Once you complete the form, bring it with you to your appointment and discuss any questions you have with your primary care provider. They will be able to better assess your stage in the quit process with the answers that you give on this form, so it is very important.
- Quit Lines: Quit Lines are telephone-based supports to help stop smoking. More than thirty states run some sort of free telephone service which links callers with trained smoking counselors. These specialists can help plan a quit method that fits each person's specific wants and needs. It has been shown that people who use telephone counseling stop smoking at twice the rate of quitters who don't utilize this form of help. With guidance from a counselor, quitters can avoid common mistakes and slip-ups that may hinder the quit process.
- Web Sites: There are web sites designed to help people who are trying to quit., You might want to check www.GottaQuit.com and www.nysmokefree.com, two sites to help people who want to quit smoking. For additional web sites, check the Additional Resources section of this site.
- Quit Programs: Stop-smoking programs are designed to help smokers recognize and cope with the common problems that arise during quitting and provide support and encouragement in the fight to stay smoke-free. Studies show that the most effective quit programs include either individual or group counseling. There is a strong relationship between the intensity of the counseling and the success rate. In general, the more intense the program, the more likely it will be successful in helping people quit smoking for good. Intensity can be increased by having more or longer sessions or by increasing the number of weeks over which the sessions are given. Educate yourself before signing up for one of these quit programs: many tend to make promises that they cannot keep, charge a high fee, or even use injections or pills not approved by the FDA.