38th Annual Great American Smokeout: It’s Never Too Late To Quit

Take a Step Towards a Healthier Life on November 21

By Chris Kotsen, PsyD, CTTS, tobacco treatment specialist and psychologist with Somerset Medical Center’s Tobacco Quitcenter

On the third Thursday in November each year, the American Cancer Society marks the Great American Smokeout, encouraging smokers to use the date to make a plan to quit using tobacco or to quit that day. If tobacco users quit, even for one day, they are taking an important step towards a healthier lifestyle and possibly reducing their risk of cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society, tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the U.S. About 17% of New Jerseyans continue to smoke cigarettes and most of them know the dangers and life-threatening conditions tobacco use can lead to.

In order successfully quit smoking, a comprehensive approach must be taken. In fact, 73 percent of smokers who set a quit date and completed professionally assisted treatment at the SMC Quitcenter were tobacco free six months later. Somerset Medical Center’s Tobacco Dependency Treatment Program includes an evaluation, specialized counseling and, when needed, pharmacotherapy to help deal with the nicotine withdrawal symptoms. When a smoker quits, they may not realize that short-term irritability, anxiety, and/or depression may become an issue in their personal, professional and even romantic lives.

If you want to quit, are thinking about quitting or know someone who is, keep the following in mind to ensure the process is effective.  

General Tips:

-        Educate yourself on the latest research on the dangers of tobacco use; also research the health benefits of quitting.

-        Plan for and develop new coping habits for coming smoking triggers like lighting up in the car and after meals.

-        Be aware of the psychological and physical nicotine withdrawal symptoms and develop a plan to minimize them.

-        Speak with your tobacco treatment specialist or doctor about techniques to manage cravings.

-        Look into treatments that are based on research, not fads.

-        Rely on family, friends and your tobacco treatment specialist and/or physician for support and motivation through the process.

-        If you are a smoker over 55 years old with 30 or more pack years (number of packs of cigarettes smoked per day multiplied by the number of years smoked), talk to your doctor about getting a CT screening for lung cancer.

Whether you are quitting today or plan to quit soon, educate yourself in taking steps to a healthier lifestyle and learn about the great benefits of quitting. Early prevention and early detection ensure the best outcomes for the health of those that currently smoke. In honor of the Great American Smokeout, I encourage you to keep educating yourself on the benefits of quitting your tobacco use, and to reach out to your tobacco treatment specialist and/or physician if you have any questions or concerns about your health.