Thinking About Quitting

Your body gets more
than nicotine when
you smoke.

There are more than
4,000 chemicals in
cigarette smoke. Some
of them are also in wood
varnish, the insect poison
DDT, arsenic, nail polish
remover, and rat poison.

The ashes, tar, gases,
and other poisons in
cigarettes harm your
body over time. They
damage your heart and
lungs. They also make
it harder for you to
taste and smell things,
and fight infections.

Why is quitting so hard?

Many ex-smokers say quitting was the hardest thing
they ever did. Do you feel hooked? You’re probably
addicted to nicotine. Nicotine is in all tobacco
products. It makes you feel calm and satisfied. At
the same time, you feel more alert and focused. The
more you smoke, the more nicotine you need to feel
good. Soon, you don’t feel “normal” without nicotine.
It takes time to break free from nicotine addiction.
It may take more than one try to quit for good.
So do not give up too soon. You will feel good again.
Quitting is also hard because smoking is a big part
of your life. You enjoy holding cigarettes and puffing
on them. You may smoke when you are stressed,
bored, or angry. After months and years of lighting
up, smoking becomes part of your daily routine.
You may light up without even thinking about it.

Smoking goes with other things, too. You may light
up when you feel a certain way or do certain things.
For example:

• Drinking coffee, wine, or beer
• Talking on the phone
• Driving
• Being with other smokers

You may even feel uncomfortable not smoking at
times or in places where you usually have a cigarette.
These times and places are called “triggers.” That’s
because they trigger, or turn on, cigarette cravings.
Breaking these habits is the hardest part of quitting
for some smokers.

Quitting isn’t easy. It may take several tries. But you'll learn
something each time you try. It takes will power
and strength to beat your addiction to nicotine.
Remember that millions of people have quit smoking
for good. You can be one of them!

Just thinking about quitting may make you anxious.
But your chances will be better if you get ready first.
Quitting works best when you’re prepared. Before you
quit, S.T.A.R.T.