NICOTINE DEPENDENCE
PROBLEM
Cigarette smoking is one of the most preventable causes of death and disability in the United States. Other forms of nicotine include chewing tobacco and pipe tobacco, which can be just as harmful. Risks of lip, tongue, mouth, and throat cancer are associated with the use of nicotine. Smoking may cause bleeding in pregnancy and may be responsible for the baby not growing well. It is well documented that infants and children who are exposed to long-term, secondhand smoke inhalation are at increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome and frequent ear infections and chronic illnesses.
Nicotine is addictive; therefore, stopping smoking is difficult.
The effectiveness and safety of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation aid is uncertain at present.
CAUSE
Seeing your parents smoke and using tobacco may be one of the reasons that caused you to start using tobacco. Peer pressure is a big reason why you may have started smoking as a teenager. You may also feel nervous and use smoking for its instant calming effect.
REASONS TO QUIT
A.Quitting tobacco will add years to your life. It is never too late to quit smoking.
B.You will have healthier lungs, which will decrease your risk of developing cancer and having a heart attack or stroke.
C.You will also have more energy and feel better physically and mentally.
D.Smoking cessation will also decrease the secondhand-smoke exposure around your family and friends, which will make them healthier, too.
E.Secondhand smoke causes asthma attacks and other health problems.
F.Some insurance plans are more expensive if you smoke.
G.You will save a lot of money by not buying cigarettes.
H.Do not quit for yourself: Quit for someone you love.
I.You will have fewer wrinkles.
J.Other treatment is available if you use smoking to help control nervousness. Please talk to your healthcare provider if you feel this is the reason you smoke.
TREATMENT PLAN
A.Set a quit date within 2 to 4 weeks and get information/treatment from your provider.
B.Throw away all cigarettes, matches, lighters, and ashtrays in your home, car, and workplace.
C.Make smoking very inconvenient.
D.Ask your family/friends for support and encouragement to help you stop.
E.Stay in nonsmoking environments and avoid friends/family members who smoke.
F.If you get the urge to smoke, take deep cleansing breaths and try to occupy your time with something else, like chewing gum.
G.Leave the table and change the smoking routine you used to have, such as smoking with your coffee after meals.
H.Reward yourself often for staying smoke-free.
I.It is not unusual that you will go back to smoking; it is difficult to quit. Smoking even one fewer cigarette counts.
J.It may take several times to finally quit.
K.Use an alternative method to help during times of extreme stress (singing, music, prayer, reciting a favorite verse, taking deep abdominal breaths [five times in over 1 minute]).
Activity:
A.Exercise daily to help alleviate the craving for nicotine.
B.Avoid caffeine if possible.
C.Chew gum or hard candy when you crave a cigarette.
D.Eat celery sticks or carrots in place of a cigarette.
E.Drink a lot of water and other fluids to keep hydrated.
Medications:
A.Discuss options available with your healthcare provider to help you quit.
B.Medications are available to help you quit.
C.The nicotine patch, inhaler, and gum are available and may be right for you. Discuss these options with your healthcare provider since they are good steps to quitting.
D.Many of the stop-smoking medicines may be covered by your insurance.
You Have Been Prescribed: ___________________________________________________________
You Need to Take: ___________________________________________________________
You Need to Notify the Office If You Have:
A.Severe craving and the urge to smoke or chew tobacco even on medicines.
B.Feelings of impulsiveness, like you might do something you will later regret.
C.Started to smoke again after you have stepped down while using the nicotine patch.
D.Other: ___________________________________________________________
Phone: ____________________________
RESOURCES
The American Cancer Society has some good tips on quitting smoking at www.cancer.org.
The American Lung Association also has good guides to help stop smoking at www.lung.org.
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