Help Someone You Love

By Michelle Lee Ribeiro
Reprinted from Cosmo Girl

Despite all the warnings about how bad cigarettes are for you, smoking still kills more than 400,000 people in the U.S. every year. It's one of the hardest habits to kick--even more difficult than many hard drugs. Doctors say the three-step method below is most successful. So show this article to a smoker you love--your mom, your aunt, your older sister--and tell her you want to help her quit. Your support may be the kick in the tush she needs!

Planning to Quit

Working with a cessation therapist (which is covered by most insurance companies) greatly increases the chance of succeeding. They help smokers pinpoint their habitual smoking times (driving, talking on the phone) and devise a plan to fight the urge to smoke in those situations. Ask your doctor if she can recommend a cessation therapist.

Quitting

On the quit date you've decided on, help your relative get rid of all evidence that she is a smoker--toss all cigarettes, ashtrays and lighters. Then she'll start her chosen quitting tool--either nicotine replacement like the patch, inhaler, or gum, or the prescription medication Zyban*. Learn more about these tools at smokefree.gov/guide/medicines/html.

Staying Clean

Exercising, eating healthy, drinking lots of water, and cutting out activities that make her want to smoke will help prevent a relapse. Also, continuing therapy is essential. (She can also call the National Cancer Institute hotline at 877-44U-QUIT for support.) The urge to smoke passes within 10 minutes--so tell her to call you so you can distract her for a few!

* Adult smokers are twice as likely to quit smoking successfully using these tools. Teens should ask their doctor what method is best for them. Experts say there is no scientific proof that methods like hypnosis and laser therapy work.