TIME TO QUIT

If you are a smoker, keep an open mind, and remember "persistence pays off".

Smoking is one of the leading causes of health statistics. The tobacco industry made over $13 billion last year profit on 43 million Americans who smoke.
Our government spends billions of dollars on cancer research, and treatment. Millions are spent on tobacco cessation treatments and advertising. States receive billions of dollars in tobacco legal settlements. More than 80% of people smoking today really do want to quit and cannot.

On the other hand, tobacco companies received incentives to export, our government subsidizes tobacco farmers, tobacco companies have tax deductible advertising directed at teenagers, and there is an immense tax deductible lobbying effort and campaigning on behalf of the tobacco industry. The tobacco company helps Medicare funding by having those of us who smoke die sooner, and thus collect fewer Medicare benefits.

Feeling full, quenching your thirst, bonding with your mates, making more money, gambling, sexual satisfaction, and the use of drugs, are all strong reinforcing experiences that make us feel rewarded.

Unfortunately, the primitive parts of our brain control our less primitive basic drives and thoughts. Our thoughts cannot change, if they are under the control of our primitive parts of our brain.

 Our health care providers all have the impression that it is futile to try to get someone to quit smoking. They have time constraints, don’t get reimbursed for their efforts, and frankly lack training in addiction control. It is estimated that 15% of smokers would quit each year if doctors continued to emphasize the risks of smoking, relate their health problems to smoking, show the effects of smoking on their family, and remind them that their children are more likely to smoke if they don’t quit. ( That adds up to 6 million Americans quitting each year).

Over 85% of Americans who smoke want to quit can’t quit, need help, and feel powerless. They must make a firm decision to ask for help, follow directions of their healthcare giver, change their behavior, and trust the cessation process. Ask them, who among their acquaintances, has already quit. They must see the advantages of changing their behavior, seeing themselves responsible and in control. they must see that there are no harmful effects, and change will also promoting long lasting changes in the brain’s circuitry reward system.

Effective tobacco cessation techniques include: brief counseling, drugs when appropriate, behavioral change with a support system( 12 step AA program), and acupuncture treatments. All these methods work for different people. If you are a smoker, keep an open mind, and remember persistence pays off.

Accept the things you can’t change, have courage to change the things you can, and get smart enough to know the difference. ( Serenity prayer).

Seek self-help materials:
www.lungusa.org
www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/tobacco
www.quitnet.com
www.ahrq.gov/consumer/index.html.html#smoking
www.americanacupuncture.com

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