If you smoke, tap into the many tools available to help you stop for good. They include:

Nicotine replacement therapy. Smokers seeking to quit used to have only pills or patches to curb their cravings. Now nicotine replacement products come in many different forms, including inhalers, sprays, lozenges and chewing gum. Combined with behavioral programs, nicotine replacement therapy can double your chances of stopping smoking for good.

Cessation programs. Your health care provider can refer you to local smoking cessation programs, which help smokers deal with withdrawal and other barriers to quitting. Programs may be offered through your local hospital or universities.  The American Lung Association (ALA) also can steer you toward group clinics near you; (800) LUNG-USA (800-586-4872).

Quit lines, texts or chats. The National Cancer Institute offers free phone counseling at (877) 44U-QUIT (877-448-7848). Another national resource is smokefree.gov, which has comprehensive cessation information and a toll-free number with information on state quit lines: (800) QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669).

Online support. The ALA provides a 24-hour online Freedom From Smoking program at ffsonline.org.

–Ziba Kashef

Commit to Quit is a post from: Heart & Soul