New Quit Tobacco Class for The Steps to Success!

A new Quit Tobacco and Nicotine class will start on Wednesday, December 6, 6 p.m. at The Stream in Newaygo (1 State Road). The class is free. For information and to register, call Sally Wagoner, RN, Spectrum Health Gerber: 231.924.7589.

“I tried the patch and it didn’t work.” Does this sound like you or someone you know? If so, then you realize that just putting on a nicotine patch is not the magic bullet for quitting tobacco use.
Why is it so hard to quit smoking, chew (dip) or vaping (e-cigs)? It is difficult because it is not just a bad habit. It is an addiction that changes how our brain responds to nicotine and the rewards we associate with it.
The most successful steps to quitting include:

1. Using nicotine replacement products like the patch for a steady level of nicotine to decrease cravings; plus using nicotine gum, lozenge or inhaler for the strong, intermittent nicotine urges.
2. Taking one of the two prescription medications, if appropriate for you, that are used for quitting nicotine (bupropion, known as Zyban; or varenicline, also known as Chantix).
3. Setting a quit date and preparing for that date by telling friends and family.
4. Creating a plan to help you replace the smoking, vaping or chewing routines with healthy behaviors.
5. Meeting with a Tobacco Treatment Specialist or taking a class every week for at least eight
   weeks to help you with the above four steps.

A Tobacco Treatment Specialist (TTS) is trained to help you with the nicotine addiction and withdrawals as well as the ingrained routines and behaviors. The TTS will work with you and your provider to find the best nicotine replacement product, or the best medication, for you. Sometimes a combination of more than one medication or nicotine product will work the best for your situation.
The TTS will also help you learn what triggers your smoking or nicotine desire. Does stress cause you to light up? Do you find yourself vaping when you are bored? Do you chew throughout the day at work? Identifying when you use is the first step in learning what to do instead of smoking, vaping or dipping. You can start with healthy changes such as nibbling on celery sticks, taking a walk when the nicotine urge hits, and deeply breathing in fresh air instead of stale, tobacco air to dissolve the cravings until you are completely tobacco free.
Quitting tobacco and nicotine means taking your life back into your own control. When you quit smoking or vaping, your health begins to improve very quickly, and you will find you have more energy and are less short of breath. You are no longer tied to when and where you can smoke. Right away your clothes smell fresher, your mouth is cleaner, and your wallet a little heavier!
Quitting smoking and nicotine use is not always easy. But you are not alone in your journey. Newaygo County has all the resources you need to quit for good. You can do it! Contact one of the following Tobacco Treatment Specialists today:
Karen Ripke, TTS, District Health Department #10: 231.689.7300.
Sally Wagoner, RN, TTS, Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial: 231.924.7589
BreatheWell Newaygo County, Tobacco Prevention Coalition: [email protected]