When some people quit using tobacco, they toss out everything that reminds them of their former habit. Once that's done, they never look back. But for most people, it's not that easy.


When you use tobacco, your body craves the nicotine it contains. Giving it up is much harder than simply changing a habit. It is hard to quit, but you can do it. You can quit by slowly reducing how much tobacco you use or by quitting all at once or "cold turkey".


There is no one "quit plan" that works for everybody. Often it's trial and error until something finally works for you. U

sing treatment can double or triple your chance of quitting.

Today’s tools for quitting tobacco include:

  • Medication, such as nicotine replacement therapy and bupropion (Zyban).
  • Stop-smoking programs, such as the American Lung Association's Freedom from Smoking program.
  • Support groups, such as Nicotine Anonymous.
  • Counseling from doctors, nurses, or therapists.
  • National network of tobacco cessation quitlines—1-800-QUITNOW (1-800-784-8669).

You'll likely have the best success when you use more than one of these tools.

You may quit and restart your habit many times before you stop for good. Most people who smoke make many attempts at quitting before they succeed. The important thing is to keep trying.