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Some say it's as hard to quit smoking as it is to kick a heroin habit, so it's no surprise that there are numerous Web sites, products and services dedicated to helping smokers quit. On top of the well-known lung-related illnesses, smokers also have an increased risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and cancers of the bladder, cervix, kidney, stomach and uterus. Smoking is bad for your health and the health of people around you, and it's not too easy on the wallet either. Cigarettes cost around $5 per pack. If you're smoking a pack a day, that means you're inhaling around $1,825 of your hard-earned money every year. While there's no easy way to quit smoking, there are organizations out there that want to help you quit smoking -- including, oddly enough, tobacco companies! Read on to learn more. The grandson of tobacco giant R.J. Reynolds founded the Foundation for a Smokefree America after seeing so many of his family members battle smoking-related illnesses.
Patrick Reynolds sold off his stock in the tobacco company to launch the foundation in 1989. Since then, he's spoken at middle schools, high schools and universities, and he's even testified before Congress on the dangers of tobacco use. The foundation works to educate current and potential smokers, as well as physicians and policymakers, on the dangers of smoking and smoking cessation techniques. They've also worked on media campaigns, like public service announcements starring celebrities aimed at preventing teens from picking up smoking. The foundation even produced an educational video targeting sixth through 12th graders called "The Truth About Tobacco." They sponsor a helpline, 1-800-QUIT-NOW, for anyone looking to give up smoking or ex-smokers trying to avoid a relapse, and they suggest resources from other anti-smoking groups that can help as well. Their "quit smoking" page even includes a section of tips for smokers' family members on how to approach loved ones about quitting. The National Alliance for Tobacco Cessation (NATC) is one of many programs that receives funding from the American Legacy Fund, part of the 1998 Big Tobacco settlement.
The NATC sponsors the online resource EX, which helps people quit smoking and stay smoke-free. Through the EX site, smokers can make a "Quit Plan," which takes detailed information about you and your smoking habits, then helps you create a quitting calendar and provides a tailored checklist designed to help you quit smoking and stay a nonsmoker for life. The program helps smokers identify their smoking triggers by tracking when they smoke, then helps them separate themselves from common triggers like eating, driving, or drinking coffee or alcohol. It also provides support as you near your quit date and tips for avoiding slip-ups. They emphasize education, focusing on the health benefits of not smoking, and they also address two issues that ex-smokers often struggle with: maintaining a healthy weight and relieving stress. The online community QuitNet centers on the idea that it's easier to quit smoking with social support. Started in 1995 by a Boston physician, it's now run by Healthways, a for-profit company.
It's free to join the community, though they do offer a premium membership for around $10 per month that includes one-on-one counseling, an expanded "Quitting Guide," medication recommendations and milestone trophies. The basic program is similar to the EX campaign: You choose a quit date and get support from the site. What makes QuitNet different is that it focuses on community. There's an online forum where you can meet fellow quitters, and you can add "buddies" for additional support. It's also more medication focused. Even basic members have access to the medication guide, which provides information about some of the nicotine replacement options (like the patch) and prescription medications (like Wellbutrin) that can sometimes help smokers transition off of cigarettes. Their online "Guide to Quitting Smoking" includes information on the health, economic and social benefits of quitting, along with resources to help smokers deal with the mental and physical addictions. The ACS Web site is very realistic about the success rates for people who quit smoking: Those who quit completely on their own have just a 4 to 7 percent chance of staying smoke-free.
They recommend professional help, like behavioral therapy, to increase those odds, and they also encourage smokers to look into medications, which increase the odds of quitting successfully to 25 to 33 percent. Because smoking-related illnesses are a serious public health concern, many government organizations want to help you quit smoking. In the U.S., the federal and state governments have programs to help smokers quit. In part because of money from the Master Settlement Agreement, many U.S. In New York, for example, residents can get support from an online "quit coach," or request free packs of nicotine gum or patches to help them quit. Australia, for example, has an extensive anti-smoking program, including a Quitline that smokers can call for support and the online community QuitCoach that offers resources for those looking to quit. In the U.K., the Department of Health runs the Smokefree service, where smokers can order a Quit Kit and learn more about nicotine addictions. The American Heart Association (AHA) identifies smoking as one of the "six major independent risk factors for coronary heart disease." Smokers are more prone to blood clots and less likely to be physically active, both of which affect heart health. Their "quit smoking" page combines detailed information on smoking's health risks, along with resources to help you quit, fight the urge to smoke and create a plan to quit and stay that way. Their quitters plan is a little bit less involved than some of the other services out there. Rather than an interactive site, the AHA provides ideas for dealing with the urge to smoke, whether you're home, outside or in social situations. Economic Facts about U.S.
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