Get Ready for the Great American Smokeout®

Each year the American Cancer Society sponsors the Great American Smokeout® on the third Thursday of November. This year, the event is Nov. 17, 2005 . The purpose of the day is to help smokers and other tobacco users quit, at least for a day, with the hope that they will remain tobacco-free for good.

If you are participating in the Great American Smokeout®, here are some questions you should ask yourself to plan for your quit day:

1. Why do I want to quit smoking/using tobacco?
2. What method will I use to quit smoking/using tobacco?
3. How do I stay smoke/tobacco free?

Some helpful hints for quitters include:

• Understand that quitting is not a one-size-fits-all treatment. Symptoms vary among smokers and reasons to quit vary as well.
• Change your daily routines. If you get up and have coffee and a cigarette in the same chair every morning, you will need to have your coffee somewhere else because the addicted brain will wonder what happened to the cigarette and craving will be triggered.
• Get exercise. Instead of smoking after a meal, take a walk with a friend or family member.
• Take care of yourself. Drink lots of water, eat a balanced diet and get enough sleep.
• Find support. Pick a team of family members and friends who care and tell them when you feel bad or are craving.

To learn more about smoking cessation, including treatment options and how to plan to quit, visit (INSERT URL).

If you wish to quit smoking, or are in the process of quitting and need extra support, call your employee assistance program (EAP) at (insert NUMBER) for confidential counseling and assistance. An EAP counselor can help you set a quit date, learn ways to make quitting easier and help you devise a plan to stay tobacco-free.