Don’t Hide Behind a Smoke Screen
The biggest argument for smoking – aside from being cool – is that nicotine reduces stress. And we all know how stressful school can be. But for smokers, much of that stress comes from craving a smoke because their nicotine levels are dropping. So it’s really the chemical addiction that is the stressor.
It’s no secret – smoking causes many damaging short- and long-term effects. The 2005 Core Survey reports that more than 25 percent of all college students say they used tobacco in the previous month. It’s also no secret that quitting this deadly habit can be challenging, but the younger you are when you quit, the less damage you’ll incur later in life. Fortunately, the situation isn’t hopeless. Attend smoke cessation events at your school. Make quitting your goal. Breaking the habit relies on four strategies:
- First, get educated – Learn all details about the consequences of tobacco use. Look at the benefits of quitting, including the money you’ll save. Then find what options are available for quitting, such as “cold turkey,” nicotine patches or gum, or behavioral therapy.
- Second, recognize your triggers – What stimulates you to smoke and what makes you crave a cigarette? Eliminate the triggers as best you can: daily routines and social situations – that morning coffee, that cluster of smelly students that lights up after every class, and so on. Psychological triggers like stress need another outlet, so changes in lifestyle may be called for.
- Third, get social support – Let your friends and relatives know of your plan to quit. If there are smokers among them, recruit them to join your quitting plans.
- Fourth, set up approach goals – Approach goals are positive options within reasonable reach. They can be lifestyle options, such as new hobbies or regular exercise, or physical substitutes, like chewing gum.
It’s never too late to make a change. And don’t put yourself down if you have a relapse. The great thing is that you can always stop again, and like millions of former smokers, one day it will be permanent. For further support, see our resources list below.
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