Smoking Cessation
Why Do You Smoke?
Take this QUIZ from the American Cancer Society to gain more insight into your smoking habits.
Need Help Quitting?
Have you been thinking about quitting smoking but weren't sure how to get started? Have you tried quitting in the past and haven't found the method that quite works for you? |
- Pick a good time to quit. Don't try to quit near the holiday season or when you are under alot of stress.
- The quitting process is different for everybody. Talk to other former smokers for support, but don't expect your experience to be the same.
- Maintain some kind of physical activity by walking, playing basketball or swimming. Exercise can boost your energy level and get your mind off of your goal of staying smoke-free.
- Eat a healthy diet, drink lots of water and get enough sleep.
- Ask for help from family and friends.
Who is at risk?
Smoking attracts over 3,000 young people each day and 1.7 million youths have smoked cigarettes by their 18th birthday. A California survey* of college students reports that 20% of college student smoke cigarettes. Men are slightly more likely than women to have smoked (21.9% of all men vs. 18.9% of all women). Among students who smoke, 44% report trying to quit during the past six months. Quitting is difficult because nicotine is a physically addictive drug.
Every 10 seconds, someone dies from tobacco use, says the World Health Organization.
What is the risk?
Scientific evidence exists linking death and disease to tobacco use. Health risks include cardiovascular disease, chronic coughs, reduced lung function, emphysema and cancer. Short-term health risks include smelly clothes, bad breath, clothing burns and loss of income spent on cigarettes. Tobacco smoke contains about 4,000 chemicals, including 200 known poisons. Tobacco smoke is harmful to everybody's health.
"We know -- and so do the tobacco companies -- that there are dozens of chemicals in tobacco smoke that are carcinogens or reproductive toxicants"... Los Angeles City Attorney James Hahn
