As the New Year begins, determine to make 2011 the year that you quit smoking. Resources are available to help you quit for good this year.

Make 2011 Your Year to Quit – PART 1

Quitting smoking is among the most common New Year’s resolutions. The New Year is a symbol of renewal and can be a time to prepare for new beginnings. It is a time to set goals and make them public so that you can get support and encouragement from friends and family. If you are a smoker, determining to quit in 2011 may be the most important resolution you ever make.

Nicotine is the drug in tobacco products that makes them addictive. In fact, nicotine dependence is the most common form of addiction in the United States. Research suggests that nicotine is as addictive as heroin, cocaine, or alcohol.

Smokers want to smoke because their bodies rely on nicotine. When the amount of nicotine in the body runs low, smokers experience a craving—a strong, almost uncontrollable urge to smoke.

Quitting smoking can be challenging and may require multiple attempts. People sometimes relapse because of stress and withdrawal symptoms (e.g., irritability, anxiety, difficulty concentrating). But you can quit. For some smokers, quitting is not as hard as they expected. For others, it is a major battle. But the bottom line is that more than 40 million smokers have successfully quit. In fact, today there are more former smokers than smokers.

Make 2011 your year to quit.

Source: Center for Disease Control and Prevenention

CTCADA