BLOOMINGTON – Quitting tobacco is a process, and the start of a new year can be a
great time to restart or renew tobacco cessation goals.
“Each person’s tobacco cessation journey is unique, and you don’t always have long-term
success on your first try,” said IU Health Community Health Tobacco Prevention Coordinator Kristen Terry. “I encourage anyone who’s tried to quit in the past to give yourself grace and recommit to quitting.”
Whether you’ve recently decided to quit or have attempted to cut out tobacco in the past, Terry suggests starting the cessation process by identifying why you want to quit. Commonly identified reasons include:
- Personal health
- Health of loved ones
- Personal appearance
- The financial cost
“Your reason for quitting—no matter what it is—is valid,” Terry said. “Use that as an anchor and then set yourself up for success by identifying your triggers and planning for how to deal with them without reaching for a cigarette or other tobacco product.”
She also emphasized that vapes aren’t the answer to tobacco cessation.
“Don’t trade one addiction for another,” Terry said. “A lot of popular vapes on the market actually have more nicotine in them than a traditional pack of cigarettes.”
Call 1.800.Quit.Now for help from a trained quit coach and to get started on a quit plan if you don’t already have one. You can also call this number for free, evidence-based tobacco cessation support. Visit QuitNowIndiana.com to learn more.
For local tobacco prevention and control efforts, visit the Tobacco Free Coalition of Monroe County on Facebook.
