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Published on November 08, 2022

Getting Off Of Tobacco; Quitting or Supporting A Quitter

Quit Smoking

November is Lung Cancer Awareness month. It’s a great opportunity to reach out to members of our communities about the dangers of smoking and encourage them to stop. Quitting smoking or vaping isn’t easy, but having a program to support you can make all the difference.

Smoking is the number one cause of preventable disease and death worldwide with roughly 480,000 deaths from tobacco each year in the U.S. alone. Smoking also causes or worsens a variety of diseases and conditions, and second-hand smoke is responsible for roughly 41,000 deaths annually. Some smokers believe that e-cigarettes or vaping will help ease them into quitting, but that replacement technique isn’t healthy mentally or physically.

The Freedom from Smoking® program from the American Lung Association is a proven way to quit and provides participants options, resources and support. It takes time and commitment to stop smoking and embrace a healthier lifestyle, but the benefits are huge:

  • Reducing the carbon monoxide level in your blood
  • Reducing your risk of heart attack and stroke
  • Decreasing coughing and shortness of breath
  • Reducing your risk of getting cancer of the bladder, throat, mouth, kidney, pancreas or esophagus
  • Reducing your risk of dying from lung cancer

Helping those wanting to quit smoking or vaping create a plan, then giving them the tools needed to keep going once they have stopped, are keys to success. The old adage ‘failing to plan is planning to fail’ applies. If you have a friend or family member struggling with quitting smoking, there are things you can do to offer support.

  • Ask your friend or family member what they think they need most
  • Refer them to a program they can enroll in for help
  • Show confidence that you believe he or she can quit smoking for good, even if it’s been attempted before.
  • Be ready to help early on; taking a walk, talking through a crisis or lending an ear when they have a something tough to go through is helpful.
  • Check in frequently. Ask how the person is feeling without focusing solely on whether or not they are still off cigarettes.
  • No nagging, scolding or preaching; express admiration for their hard work.
  • Give lots of compliments and offer rewards for getting through a day, a week or a month without smoking.
  • Do things together away from places where others may be smoking.

Since the pandemic, we have seen smoking cessation programming go virtual. Perhaps not surprisingly, it has helped our organization reach more individuals and we find that throughout the course of the program, group members are still able to make close bonds with others in class to offer mutual support.

The Great American Smokeout can be a great starting point for many which takes place this year on Thursday, Nov. 17. Community educators at MyMichigan Health are offering a virtual session of the Freedom from Smoking® program beginning in January.

Mary Griffore, R.N., B.S., is a community nurse educator at MyMichigan Medical Centers Gladwin and West Branch. She co-facilitates the Freedom from Smoking® program with colleague Vivian Andrews, R.N., C.C.R.P., in cardiopulmonary rehabilitation at MyMichigan Medical Center West Branch. To learn more about the program or to register, visit www.mymichigan.org/freedomfromsmoking.