Want to Help a Smoker Quit?

No matter what you do, you can't make someone to stop smoking if they don't want to. But if someone you know wants to become smoke-free, you can help. Believe it or not, you don't have to be a non-smoker to be helpful. If you are a smoker, you too can help. Read on and find out how.

Being pressured or made to feel guilty by others will not help them become smoke-free There are ways you can support them. The most important step is to educate yourself on the quit process.

Becoming smoke-free doesn't happen overnight. Most people go through five stages on the way to successfully quit smoking.

They will try several times before they quit for good, and some people move back and forth between the following stages:

1. Not thinking about quitting
2. Thinking about quitting but not ready to quit
3. Getting ready to quit
4. Quitting
5. Remaining a non-smoker

Once a smoker has decided to quit, he or she is more likely to be successful when friends or family give help and support. Because becoming smokefree is different for each smoker, it is important to ask the smoker you want to help how you can be most helpful. This will show that you care and that you really want to help.

Maybe you have already tried to help smokers quit and they weren't successful. That's okay. Many smokers start and stop smoking many times before they are successful - hang in there with them - they'll appreciate your support.

If a smoker has not yet decided to quit, you can help him or her to think of personal reasons for quitting, setting up a quit date, and offering help in any way he or she asks.

General Advice For Family and Friends

Accept the fact that it is the person who wants to quit who is in charge. This is their lifestyle change, not yours.

Don't threaten, nag or lecture about the dangers of smoking - these tactics rarely work. If there is interest, talk about the benefits of quitting smoking, e.g., more money, better health. But if there is no interest, drop it.

Be resourceful. Take a little time to read up on quitting process. Visit your local pharmacist or health care provider and ask them about nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs). Be prepared to provide support information to the person who wants to quit.

Have faith that the person will succeed, even if there have been many previous attempts. Most smokers make 5-7 quit attempts before they succeed, and your faith will help the smoker stay positive and motivated.

Encourage the smoker to call the Health Promotion Unit of the Yukon Government (phone: 667-8393 or tollfree: 1-866-221-8393) to enroll in the QuitPath program.

Show understanding. A little empathy goes a long way . Show that you understand how difficult and disruptive quitting can be. Listen and show concern. Help overcome roadblocks. Give lots of pats on the back.

If You Are a Smoker...

Even though a family member or friend no longer wants to smoke they still want to be your friend. Remember that their decision to stop is not a criticism of you. It's not about you! It may be the right time for them to give up smoking, but you are still free to do what you like! You do not have to quit yourself to help your friend stop smoking. Here are a few tips what you can do to help:

Smoke outside and out of sight so you don't make it harder for them.

Keep your cigarettes and matches, lighters, and ashtrays out of sight. They might be triggers to smoke.

Do NOT ever offer a cigarette to the quitter, even as a joke! Try not to do anything else to encourage them to start smoking again. Let them make their own choice about smoking.

Don't make fun of their preparations or their quit attempts. Try to be supportive, even if it causes you some inconvenience or makes you think about your smoking.

Think of things you can do together that don't involve smoking cigarettes.

One Final Note...

Remember that a slip does not mean that they have failed. Many people who want to quit smoking slip up on their way to success. Talk with them about what triggered them to smoke and how they might be able to handle this trigger situation differently in the future.

Encourage them to try again if they relapse. Research shows that most people try to quit five to seven times before the succeed. Don't give up your efforts to encourage and support them. Praise them for trying to quit and for whatever length of time (hours, days, weeks, or months) of not smoking. Don't say, "If you try again..." Say, "When you try again.." , and encourage them to learn from the attempt.