| Show Facts on Smoking Tips for Quitting The Human Side SideBy SideBy SideBy By Diane Cashel Director oa Drug Alcohol Y Education You cant can't pick up a newspaper or turn on the TV these days without hearing about the battle over smoking smoking smoking ing especially teenage smoking Can you remember your smoking education It probably happened in elementary elementary elementary elemen elemen- tary school and the topic was health You had a guest speaker who carried carved in a huge jar of formaldehyde that contained a disgusting black lung all that was left of some smoker That sickening image might have been enough for you never to press a cigarette to you lips For others it had no impact According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention one- one half of youths ages 12 to 21 have smoked at least a whole cigarette Another 10 percent have taken a few puffs It is estimated that at least 31 million adolescents are arc current ers That means young people become regular smokers every day More shocking is the fact that 70 10 percent of high school seniors in the US U.S. who smoked one to five cigarettes cigarettes cigarettes ciga ciga- a day were still smoking five years later Young people who have smoked as few as cigarettes report they would like Jike to quit but cant can't and 70 percent regret the decision decision decision deci deci- sion to start Unfortunately getting involved with smoking is addictive There are three ways to be hooked Chemical addiction habit and psychological dependency A smoker can be hooked in any or orall orall orall all of these ways Some smokers have a dependency on cigarettes to manage stress some crave and arc are addicted to the nicotine Some have formed a bond with cigarettes and a habit only smoking ng after they eat or when they drink or because it is a asocial asocial asocial social thing to do with friends In any case once you are hooked it is difficult to quit National awareness awareness awareness aware aware- ness campaigns like The uThe Great American Day on November 16 brings attention to the fact that there are successful ways to get the support needed to stop ing mg A variety of health organizations have developed smoking cessation support classes To get more information information information tion call the Drug Alcohol Education Program here on campus Heres Here's some helpful steps in preparing to stop smoking Prepare Your Mind to Stop Smoking Determine the reasons why you smoke Consider that you might be part of 17 million Americans who are dependent on nicotine Determine why you want to stop smoking The stronger your reasons reasons reasons rea rea- sons the greater chance for success Prepare Your Body to Stop Smoking Go cold turkey Make a clean break rather than stopping gradually Increase your physical activity to re release ease tensions relieve withdrawal symptoms and occupy your time in a positive way Prepare Your Environment to Support You Get rid of your cigarettes cigarettes cigarettes ciga ciga- and any reminders of smoking and avoid places that trigger your urge to smoke Make the Commitment to Stop Set a date to stop Select rewards for stopping Stopping can improve your health and enhance your self But these dont don't happen immedi immedi- One thing that is immediate is the money you'll you save Use it to give yourself rewards every so often Another suggestion is to sign a contract with yourself to prove that you really mean it when you say you want to stop Stay Stopped Ask your doctor for help If youre you're worried about quitting quitting quitting quit quit- ting talk to your doctor If youre you're nicotine-dependent nicotine your doctor can work with you on some forms of therapy Also if at first you dont don't succeed stop again Most people Us stop top a few times before they are able to stop smoking for good If that happens dont don't be discouraged Experience counts when you are trying to stop smoking Remember the Great American is just a week away If you would like more information contact Diane at or stop by our Peer Support Resource Table on Nov 16 in the College Center near the Sunken Lounge |
