Quitting Takes Hard Work and a Lot of Effort, but—
You Can Quit Smoking
Support and Advice From Your Clinician
A Personalized Quit Plan For:
Name:_________________________________
Want to Quit?
- Nicotine is a powerful addiction.
- Quitting is hard, but don't give up.
- Many people try 2 or 3 times before they quit for good.
- Each time you try to quit, the more likely you will be to succeed.
Good Reasons for Quitting:
- Your will live longer and live healthier.
- The people you live with, especially your children, will be healthier.
- You will have more energy and breathe easier.
- You will lower your risk of heart attack, stroke, or cancer.
Tips to Help You Quit:
- Get rid of ALL cigarettes and ashtrays in your home, car, or workplace.
- Ask your family, friends, and coworkers for support.
- Stay in nonsmoking areas.
- Breathe in deeply when you feel the urge to smoke.
- Keep yourself busy.
- Reward yourself often.
Quit and Save Yourself Money:
- At $3.00 per pack, if you smoke 1 pack per day, you will save $1,100 each year and $11,000 in 10 years.
- What else could you do with this money?
Five Keys for Quitting
1. Get Ready.
- Set a quit date and stick to it—not even a single puff!
- Think about past quit attempts. What worked and what did not?
1. Your Quit Date:
__________________________________
2. Get Support and Encouragement.
- Tell your family, friends, and coworkers you are quitting.
- Talk to your doctor or other health care provider.
- Get group, individual, or telephone counseling.
2. Who Can Help You:
__________________________________
__________________________________
3. Learn New Skills and Behaviors.
- When you first try to quit, change your routine.
- Reduce stress.
- Distract yourself from urges to smoke.
- Plan something enjoyable to do every day.
- Drink a lot of water and other fluids.
3. Skills and Behaviors You Can Use:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Get Mediction and Use It Correctly.
- Talk with your health care provider about which medication will work best for you:
- Bupropion SR—available by prescription.
- Nicotine gum—available over-the-counter.
- Nicotine inhaler—available by prescription.
- Nicotine nasal spray—available by prescription.
- Nicotine patch—available over-the-counter.
4. Your Medication Plan:
Medications:__________________________________
Instructions:___________________________________
____________________________________________
Be Prepared for Relapse or Difficult Situations.
- Avoid alcohol.
- Be careful around other smokers.
- Improve your mood in ways other than smoking.
- Eat a healthy diet and stay active.
5. How Will You Prepare?
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Quitting smoking is hard. Be prepared for challenges, especially in the first few weeks.
Followup plan:_______________________________________________
Other information:____________________________________________
Referral:___________________________________________________
___________________________________________
Clinician Date
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Public Health Service
Internet Citation:
You Can Quit Smoking. Support and Advice from Your Clinician. U.S. Public Health Service. http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/tobacco/tearsheet.htm
Return to Clinician's Packet
Tobacco Cessation Guideline Index
Department of Health and Human Services