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List of Five Ways to Prevent & Stop People From Smoking

Smoking cigarettes is linked to cancer, high blood pressure, heart disease, strokes and lung disease. Even with all of the evidence to support these facts, many people still insist on lighting up. Smoking is an addiction that not only harms the individual that is doing it, but it also harms the environment and the people who inhale second-hand smoke.

  1. List the Facts

    • To help people come to grips with the harm that smoking does, have them create a two-part list. One side of the paper should have all the reasons why they like to smoke, and the other should list all the reasons why they shouldn't. Be encouraging, and gently approach the issue until you find the one reason that weighs on them the most to quit, such as the high price of a carton of cigarettes or a loved one developing lung cancer. By providing a visual of what their addiction is doing to them, you can help a person start to think about why they shouldn't be smoking.

    Stress Management

    • Many people turn to smoking as a way to deal with stress. Smoking is a self-soothing mechanism that people use as a way to cope with problems in their lives. By finding healthier alternative coping mechanisms, a smoker will be less inclined to give into the urge to smoke. Stepping away from a stressful situation allows people to calm down and think rationally about their problems. Instead of taking a smoke break, take a short 15-minute walk outside to get some fresh air and clear your head. Exercise is a healthy way to help alleviate stress and curb cravings.

    Replacement of Habit

    • Some people find that the main part they enjoy about their smoking habit is feeling the cigarette in their mouth, which is known as oral gratification. One way to stop people smoking is to replace smoking cigarettes with something else, such as having a hot cup of herbal tea every time they have the urge to smoke. The heat combined with the slow meditative process of sipping tea might help them calm down and soothe their nerves. Chewing gum, toothpicks and hard candies can be used as replacements as well.

    Prevent Relapse

    • Like all addictions, if the person who has quit gives in to urges and has a cigarette, his body will start craving nicotine and he'll likely begin smoking again. Preventing relapse can be done by removing all cigarettes and tobacco-related products and paraphernalia from his home, car and workplace. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services states that total abstinence is essential and that even allowing other people to smoke in your household once you have stopped smoking hinders your ability to remain smoke-free.

    Join a Support Group

    • People smoke is because it makes them feel good and relieves stress. Support groups encourage people to talk about their emotions and help them find healthy ways to cope with stress. Support groups like Nicotine Anonymous are made up of individuals who help each other deal with the stress of quitting smoking by using a 12-step program. Teenagers who want to stop smoking can join the American Lung Association's Not On Tobacco (N-O-T) program. According to its website, N-O-T offers advice on healthy behaviors, life skills and stress management that is based on more than 10 years of research.

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