Interactive Tool: Are You Ready to Quit Smoking?

Quitting smoking, like most major lifestyle changes, is a process. Understanding where you fall in this process—your current stage of change—will help you and your doctor find the right strategy. The best way to stop smoking is to get help and to follow a plan. You can increase your chances of quitting by using medicines, such bupropion (Zyban) or varenicline (Chantix). Or you can use nicotine replacement therapy (gum, lozenges, patches, nasal sprays, or inhalers). Counseling (by phone, group, or one-on-one) can also help. And using both medicines and counseling works even better.

For more information, see the topic Reference Quitting Smoking.

Adapted with permission from: Zimmerman GL, et al. (2000). A "stages of change" approach to helping patients change behavior. Figure 1. American Family Physician, 61(5): 1409–1416.

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