Planning ahead is the key to success!
ONONDAGA COUNTY, DECEMBER 21, 2023 – If you are looking to start the New Year smoke free, you are not alone. A common resolution is to stop smoking. Most adults who smoke want to quit, and it is possible! Quitting smoking is one of the best decisions a person who smokes can make to improve their health and to protect the health of others. With a cessation plan in place, you can make 2024 the year you quit for good!
If you want to stop smoking, it can be hard to know where to start. Building a plan before you want to quit is the best way to be prepared for what’s ahead. Make a list of all your reasons you want to quit smoking. This will be a great tool to look back on when you get the urge to smoke. Think about what triggers you to smoke and come up with a plan on how to avoid or deal with these triggers. Choose a date to quit, and tell your friends and family about your decision for their support. Before your quit date, make sure you throw out all tobacco products and remove all smoking materials such as ashtrays and lighters.
Quit attempts are more likely to be successful if smokers use a multi-layered approach (such as medication with counseling) and have lots of support. Talk to your health care provider before your quit date to determine if they suggest any quit-smoking medications. Some medications are by prescription only, and your provider can work with you to determine the best option.
Quitting is hard work, but there are many resources available to those who are ready to make the commitment. The New York State Smokers Quitline provides free, confidential coaching by phone that can increase your chances of quitting successfully and staying tobacco-free. In addition, most people qualify for free nicotine replacement therapy. The Quitline can be reached at 1-866-NY-QUITS (1-866-697-8487) or online at nysmokefree.com.
Tobacco-Free CNY works in Onondaga, Oswego and Cayuga Counties to support CNY residents who want healthy, tobacco-free lives by reducing the negative impact of tobacco marketing, increasing the number of local laws that prohibit tobacco use in outdoor areas, and decreasing secondhand smoke in multi-unit housing. For more information, visit our website at tobaccofreecny.org.