How to Deal With People Who Refuse to Quit Smoking

Smoking is an addiction. Giving up any addiction is not easy, but smoking has long been recognized as one of the toughest habits to quit. Many people try repeatedly to quit smoking--only to start again days, weeks, months, sometimes even years later. Dealing with people who refuse to quit smoking can be quite a challenge, but it's important to remember that smoking is an addiction. Nicotine holds a powerful sway over the mind. Understanding this, there are some steps you can take to enter into a conversation with someone who refuses to stamp out the smoking habit.

Instructions

Dealing With Smokers

• 1

  Express optimism that one day the smoker will quit. Don't do this in a nagging or judgmental way. Bearing in mind the addiction at work in a smoker's mind, make your statement from a loving and supportive place. Do not talk about it regularly. Occasionally remind the smoker that you are concerned for his health and would like him to quit.
  Remember that most people who try to quit smoking don't do it on their first try; the average is five to seven attempts before success. So if the smoker in your life does decide to quit, maintain your optimism and support. But again, do not nag.

• 2

  Establish boundaries. Boundaries are essential to maintaining a healthy relationship with someone who refuses to quit smoking. You, as a nonsmoker, have every right to state your rules and have those rules met. If you don't want the smoker to be puffing away in the house, then he should go outside. If you don't want to smell smoke on him, make him change his clothes when he is done having a cigarette. If you don't want to listen to him coughing, make sure he goes into another room once the coughing starts.

  However, you must stay flexible in your demands. Smokers are not pariahs, and, as long as your health is not jeopardized, they too have rights. Communicate and reach mutually satisfying conclusions. For example, perhaps you will have to decide together that the smoker can smoke in the garage, but not in the house.

• 3

  Remain calm. Remember that nicotine is an addictive substance just like alcohol, heroin or cocaine. Some smokers will immediately get defensive about the decision to smoke. By maintaining a sense of calm, you can get your points across with gentle authority. This approach makes it clear that you are by no means giving your approval or support of a smoker's habit, but you are willing to deal with the addiction on mutually agreeable terms.