Dr. MJ Bazos MD, Patient Handout

QUITTING TAKES HARD WORK AND A LOT OF EFFORT
BUT— A PERSONALIZED QUIT PLAN CAN HELP

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:

• You 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 about $6.00 per pack, if you smoke 1 pack per day, you will save $2,200 each year and $22,000 in 10 years. What else could you do with this money?

You Can Quit Smoking

Quitting smoking is hard. Be prepared for challenges, especially in the first few weeks.

• Followup plan:
• Other information:
• Referral:
• Clinician Date

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?

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.

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.

4. GET MEDICATION AND USE IT CORRECTLY.
Talk with your doctor about which medication will work best for you:

• Bupropion SR (Zyban)—available by prescription.
• Nicotine gum (Nicorettes)—available by prescription.
• Nictone patch (Nicoderm, Habitrol)—available by prescription.

5. 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.

YOUR QUIT PLAN

1. YOUR QUIT DATE:
2. WHO CAN HELP YOU:
3. SKILLS AND BEHAVIORS YOU CAN USE:
4. YOUR MEDICATION PLAN:

• Medications:
• Instructions:

5. HOW WILL YOU PREPARE?