Free Help For Smokers Who Want To Quit (NAPSA)—If quitting smoking 1 has become a habit, you’re not alone. A recent study found that more than 51 percent of surveyed smokers say they will or may try to quit in 2006, and nearly all of them (86 percent) have tried to quit before. The good newsis that smokers who try and try again to quit can learn what works and what doesn't. This will actually increase their There is good news for smokers newsis that for the more than half of smokers who want to quit, a program called Committed Quitters, smoke—lIt will give you a clearer path to quitting. Does smoking relieve stress? Is it a large part of chances of quitting. Even better looking to quit. originally an online behavioral support program available only to people who purchased NicoDerm CQ, is now beingoffered free. yoursocial life? Get your head in the game— Dr. Strecher recommends that clients get support products like easily accessible and highly indi- online help before they quit, so they can read up on materials before theyre under the pressure Committed Quitters features vidualized support. Participants enroll by answering an in-depth online interview that gathers information about their habits, behaviors and motivations for smoking and quitting. A recent study found that smokers using the online Committed Quitters program with NicoDerm CQ increased their chances of success by more than 28 percent compared to smokers trying to quit using the same product and non- individualized support. “We now have a great deal of evidence about what works and what doesn’t when attempting to quit,” said Dr. Vic Strecher, smok- ing cessation expert at the Uni- versity of Michigan’s Comprehensive Cancer Center. “We know that what works the best is a com- bination of specific approved medications meant for stopping smok- ing and behavioral support, such as Committed Quitters.” For those looking to quit, Dr. Strecher offers these tips: Think about the reasons you nicotine replacement therapy and of quitting. Not only does this help raise consciousness about the pat- terns of smoking, but it gives them the tools they’ll need when they make the decision to quit for good. Check out online support services—The free online Committed Quitters program provides sup- port and encouragement to help you break your behavioral and psychological link to cigarettes, and is proven effective in helping smokers quit. Get yourself physically ready —Start walking, take in morefluids, and get plenty of rest. e Put a support system in place —Fight the urge to keep your plans to yourself and enlist the help of family and friends. You can also rely on online support programs like the ones at Committed Quit- ters, which has been proven more effective in helping smokersquit. To learn more about how to prepare yourself to quit smoking, visit www.committedquitters.com.
