Take Action: Stop Smoking

November 1, 2018

The American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout happens every year. For one day in November, smokers across the country quit smoking. In doing so, they take a small, but important, step toward improving their health and reducing their cancer risk.

Despite the warnings, the American Cancer Society says about 36.5 million Americans smoke cigarettes. Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the world, and Middlesex Hospital is doing its part to help tobacco users quit – whether they smoke cigarettes or use other tobacco products.

The Hospital’s tobacco intervention program offers both individual and group sessions, which are covered by insurance and grants when available. Its smoking intervention group classes are offered several times each year, and there are usually four or five classes per group series.

Program participants learn how to deal with triggers and cravings. They also learn how to manage withdrawal symptoms and maintain a healthy lifestyle, and they learn about e-cigarettes and the dangers of firsthand and secondhand smoke.

If your goal is to quit smoking, make use of the resources available to you, including the Hospital’s tobacco intervention program; CT Quitline, which can offer you free cessation counseling if you call 1-800-QUIT-NOW; and Internet support options, such as smokefree.gov or becomeanex.org.

"The first and most important tip is to never give up trying," says Beth Roberts, a smoking intervention specialist for Middlesex Hospital’s Center for Chronic Care Management. "It can take several quit attempts before a person understands what they need to do."

When individuals try to stop using tobacco, Roberts says they often deal with physical withdrawal. They may also find themselves in situations that trigger tobacco use. If you are unaware of these potential stumbling blocks, Roberts says quitting can be difficult and continued tobacco use is likely.

Roberts works with tobacco users to help them identify what triggers their tobacco use, and she helps create behavior plans that encourage alternative responses. She also helps people better understand the products that can help them stop using tobacco, such as nicotine replacement or medication.

Quitting "cold turkey" is not your only option. Studies show that when you use a medication or a tobacco replacement and participate in counseling, your chances of quitting are doubled, and the likelihood of long-term abstinence increases.

Roberts warns that electronic cigarettes are not necessarily a healthier alternative to tobacco products. They contain nicotine and other chemicals and additives that are not clearly defined or regulated.

For more information, call 860-358-5426.

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