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Smokers who want to quit

Anyone who has ever tried to quit smoking can tell you that it’s no easy feat to quit. And, it’s even more difficult to stay quit. Most smokers report struggling with cravings for quite some time after quitting. In addition, there are many social and environmental triggers (being around friends who smoke, a morning cup of coffee, a long car ride) that can cause a smoker to reach for a cigarette after quitting.

Why is it so hard to quit?

Cigarettes and other forms of tobacco are addicting. Nicotine is the drug in tobacco that causes addiction. (U.S. Surgeon General)
“Addiction is characterized by compulsive drug-seeking and use, even in the face of negative health consequences, and tobacco use certainly fits the description.” (National Institute on Drug Abuse)
Nicotine is both physically and psychologically addictive.
Most smokers are not successful in quitting smoking on their first attempt. “The majority [of smokers] persist in tobacco use for many years and typically cycle through multiple periods of relapse and remission.” (U.S. Public Health Service Clinical Treatment Guidelines)

While it can be reassuring to know that you aren’t alone in your struggle to quit, it can be overwhelming to hear others say how hard it is to quit. However, you should know that smokers CAN quit successfully and that there is help available to you that can make it far easier. How do you get started? By making a decision to try to quit smoking – that’s a critical first step and the most important one of all!