Small Town News

Never quit trying to quit smoking

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Around New Year's, you threw away the cigarettes and decided that now was the time to quit. But now, a few months later, you've given up or feel you are weakening. With the May 1 cigarette tax increase, the average cost per pack is now more than $8, and quitting is a decision that can make a big difference in your life, your health and your wallet!

Here in Spokane County, alarmingly, one in four high school seniors smokes, as well as 18 percent of pregnant women. And now, with the new taxes passed in Olympia, the cost of cigarettes is going up again. Don't give up. It often takes many attempts to quit successfully, and the good news is that there is more than one way to kick the habit. If cold turkey doesn't work, there are lots of other ways to try.

So much attention is devoted to those who look to quit at the beginning of the year that we can overlook those who try and fail, as many do, in the first few months. That, however, is often the time that people need extra help. They are not only dealing with the physical and psychological cravings, but they are also frustrated by their inability to quit.

But you are not alone. Most attempts to quit smoking fail before three months are up. Those who succeed rarely do so on the first try.

Better yet, there are more opportunities than ever to get help.

The American Cancer Society offers a hotline to help smokers quit. This support can help those who are having trouble and deals with the challenges of failing to quit the first time. Many studies have shown that such support is a key part of successfully quitting.

Nicotine replacement is another option. Products such as the patch or gum can help ease nicotine withdrawal. Each product is different and the choice of product has to be suited to the individual. These should only be used for short periods of time.

Now there is an additional option. New medicines can be taken that make it easier to quit by blocking the receptors in the brain stimulated by nicotine. These medicines that "take the fun out of smoking" help break the association between smoking and pleasure, and have shown success in helping people quit.

Help is also being proposed on the legislative front.

In Oregon a new law requires health insurance companies to provide coverage for medicines that help people quit. In Washington state, Group Health also provides this type of coverage. They recognize that smokers have high health care costs, visit the doctor more frequently and have a higher incidence of a wide range of health problems. Helping their citizens and customers quit smoking not only benefits the quality of life of ex-smokers, but can cut down on health care costs. At a time when so many are making efforts to find every way to cut health care costs, providing help to those seeking to quit is a good place to start.

If you are looking to quit, check with your health insurer to see if they provide coverage for these types of medicines.

Which approach or approaches are best is up to you and your doctor, but there is no question that every attempt to quit can yield rewards. The New Year has always been a good time to begin the process of quitting. Failure may simply mean that one strategy didn't work but that another might. In addition, the latest tobacco tax increase serves a good reminder that quitting can be a good step to reduce the taxes you pay.

Whatever the reason, get some help, call your doctor and don't quit. You can quit.

Sam Joseph, M.D. is a pulmonary and critical care physician with Spokane Respiratory Consultants.



Copyright 2010 Cheney Free Press, Cheney, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2010 Cheney Free Press Cheney, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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