A local
success story encourages people who use tobacco to quit in the new year.
New Year’s Day
represents the opportunity for a fresh start and Jefferson County Public Health
(JCPH) is encouraging people who use tobacco to consider giving their health a
fresh start this new year by kicking the habit.
Last month, JCPH interviewed
a former tobacco user willing to share about the personal journey of quitting as a way to help inspire others
to quit in 2016. In order to maintain this person’s anonymity, the initials “J.S.”
have been used to identify responses to the questions that were asked. When
reading this interview, keep in mind that quitting tobacco is a unique
experience for everyone and part of the quitting journey is discovering what strategies
work best for each individual. In an effort to provide additional information
and encouragement, a quitting specialist from JCPH has added commentary after
each question.
JCPH: Please share a
little bit about your tobacco use history.
J.S.: Both my grandfather and
grandmother smoked, and when I was a kid I would hide their cigarettes as an
attempt to get them to quit. I hated the smell of cigarette smoke. As I got
older, smoking became the cool thing to do among my peers. I started dabbling
with smoking around the age of 12 and would steal cigarettes from my grandmother
until I could buy my own. I began smoking more heavily around the age of 16 or
17 and eventually was up to almost two packs a day. I managed to keep my
tobacco use a secret from everyone in my family, except from my grandmother and
son, for the entire time I smoked, which was almost 20 years.
JCPH Quit Specialist: Per the Surgeon
General, nearly 9 out of 10 people who use tobacco start before the age of 18.
Studies show that because the teen brain is still developing, youth are more
vulnerable to nicotine addiction.
JCPH: When
and why did you quit?
J.S.: I thought about
quitting several times but hadn’t made any quit attempts until I was ready. I hated the smell of smoke
and the control that smoking had over me, and I had a young son who was encouraging
me to quit. I planned my quit date to be
an ex-wedding anniversary, since I wanted that day to mean something different
for me. Now it does, and I haven’t smoked a cigarette since, which was about
seven years ago.
JCPH Quit Specialist: Putting a plan
together and setting a quit date are important first steps
towards regaining your freedom from tobacco. People who have a plan for
quitting in advance of their quit day can increase the odds of staying
tobacco-free for life.
JCPH: What
other strategies or tools did you find to be helpful and effective with
quitting?
J.S.: I used an approved
cessation medication. I highly recommend using nicotine replacement therapy or
a cessation medication to help with getting past the initial symptoms of
withdrawal.
JCPH Quit Specialist: Using approved products and
medications
can increase the chances of quitting tobacco by minimizing cravings and
limiting symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. Even for those who are not ready to
quit, these products can help people who use tobacco to withstand periods when
tobacco use is prohibited. They can also reduce health risks by limiting
tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure.
JCPH: Have
you had any setbacks (or do you have any specific triggers)?
J.S.: Once my physical
cravings were gone, I realized that my addiction to cigarettes was very much an
emotional thing for me. My grandmother was everything to me. We were allies and
would smoke together, which was part of the bond between us. It was difficult
to lose an aspect of our relationship, but my son encouraged me to stay smoke-free.
He says he will never smoke because I quit for him, and that encouragement kept
me going.
JCPH Quit Specialist: Remember that for most people quitting is a process that
typically requires more than one attempt and involves more than just getting
through withdrawals. Think of it like building a muscle, developing new skills,
or even retraining or "re-wiring" your brain when it comes to smoking
patterns and dependence on nicotine. Consider every quit attempt a training
opportunity and keep going. Make adjustments to address what you learn from
each quit attempt, and bring all the encouragement and motivation that you can
muster to "get back in the quitting game" if you slip or relapse.
JCPH: What have been the
benefits of quitting?
J.S.: I got my sense of
smell and taste back, and I like not smelling like smoke. I don’t have burn
holes in my clothes anymore, and I’m a safer driver now that I am not distracted
by cigarettes. I can breathe better and no longer cough up a thick mucus in the
mornings.
JCPH
Quit Specialist:
It is never too late to quit – within 20 minutes after you smoke that last cigarette, your body begins a series of healing
changes that continue for years.
JCPH: How would you
encourage others who are thinking of quitting tobacco?
J.S: I would tell my story
and share the benefits I experienced from not smoking without being judgmental
or putting them down. I don’t want to judge or shame anyone. I would also recommend
experimenting with different resources and support to figure out what works for
them. You have to cut yourself some slack during the quitting process, and know
that if you do mess up, you just have to try again.
JCPH
Quit Specialist: For
more inspirational stories from people who have quit tobacco, watch The Journey of
Quitting videos. Quitting is hard but, with the right tools,
resources and support, you can do it! Consider using some of the following free
resources to help with the journey to quit smoking or quit using other tobacco
products:
- For
telephone support, coaching and resources to help you or a loved one
become tobacco-free; call the Colorado Quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW
(1-800-784-8669). The QuitLine also has a web-based support, www.coquitline.org. This free service provides
information and tools to tailor your own personal plan for quitting.
- The
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment offers www.TobaccoFreeCO.org,
an online web hub that connects visitors to a variety of resources and
topics including cessation services and information on preventing secondhand
smoke exposure and youth tobacco use.
- SmokeFreeTXT is a free text-based program that places
you on the path to a life free from tobacco.
- Attend
a free
tobacco cessation group hosted by
Lutheran Medical Center in Wheat Ridge on Tuesdays from 12pm-1pm or
5:30pm-6:30pm. This is a six week drop-in
group that provides adults who want to quit smoking with tools and support
to achieve their goals. You do not need to attend all six weeks in order
to participate.
- You may also visit the Thinking
of Quitting page on
the Tobacco-Free
Jeffco Website for
a list of additional resources and videos that will encourage and help you
to quit.
·
The JCPH Tobacco Prevention Initiative
offers a 2016
New Year’s Resolution infographic to
help tobacco users navigate the journey of quitting. This educational handout
provides reasons to quit, steps to design a quit plan, a tracking tool and tips
on staying tobacco-free.
Jefferson County Public Health’s Tobacco Prevention
Initiative is working to educate about the harms of tobacco in our communities
and to promote tobacco-free living. For more information or to get involved,
please visit: www.tobaccofreejeffco.com,
email tobaccofree@jeffco.us,
or call Donna Viverette at 303-275-7555.
