June 2010

With the statewide Wisconsin smoking ban approaching quickly, now might be a good time to start considering quitting smoking for employees. Wisconsin will go smoke free on July 5^th and will ban smoking in indoor places like businesses, bars and public spaces, but businesses can provide an outdoor smoking spot. 

 

There are a wide range of counseling services, self-help materials, and medicines available today, so smokers have more tools than ever to help them quit smoking for good.     

 

Tobacco addiction is both mental and physical. For more people, the best way to quit will be some combination of medicine, a method to change personal habits, and emotional support.

 

Currently,  all 50 states and the District of Columbia run some type of free telephone-based program that links callers with trained counselors. These specialists help plan a quit method that fits each person’s unique smoking pattern. People who use telephone counseling are twice as likely to stop smoking as those who don’t get this type of help. Help from a counselor can keep quitters from making many common mistakes. 

 

Telephone counseling is easier to use than some other support programs. It doesn’t require driving, transportation, or child care, and it’s available nights and weekends.

 

Contact the American Cancer Society to get help finding a phone counseling program in your area.

 

Stop smoking programs are designed to help smokers recognize and cope with problems that come up during quitting. They also provide support and encouragement in staying smoke-free. Studies have shown that the best programs will include either one-on-one or group counseling. This is a strong link between counseling’s duration/frequency and its success rate. Overall, the more intense program, the greater the chance of success. 

 

Intensity may be increased by having more frequent or longer sessions, or by increasing the number of weeks over which the sessions are given. So when looking for programs, try and find one that has the following:

 

·         each session lasts at least 15 to 30 minutes

·         there are at least 4 sessions

·         the program lasts at least 2 weeks -- longer is usually better

 

Also verify that the leader of the group has training in smoking cessation.

 

Some communities have a Nicotine Anonymous group that holds regular meetings. This group applies the 12-step program of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) to the addiction of smoking. This may include admitting you are powerless over your addiction to nicotine and having a sponsor to talk with when you are tempted to smoke. These meetings are free, but most will take donations.

Keep in mind that not all programs are ethical. Think twice about any programs that:

 

·         promise instant, easy success with no effort on your part

·         use shots (injections) or pills, especially "secret" ingredients

·         charge a very high fee -- check with the Better Business Bureau if you have doubts

·         are not willing to give you references from people who have used the program

 

Be sure to also check with your health insurance carrier for programs available.