Four Myths
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Some of your patients and clients who smoke may not understand how hard it is to stop. Alternatively, some may think they cannot stop due to negative perceptions about their ability to quit and the costs of quitting. Four common myths about cessation are addressed below.Myth #1: Smoking is just a bad habit.
The truth is that tobacco use is an addiction. Nicotine is a very addictive drug. For some people, it can be as addictive as heroin or cocaine.
Myth #2: Quitting is a matter of willpower, and the best way to quit is "cold turkey."
Because smoking is an addiction, quitting is often difficult. In Fact, only 3% of smokers who try quitting on their own are successful. However, quit rates are closer to 40 percent for people who use a combination of behavioral coaching (such as the Colorado QuitLine) and pharmacotherapy treatments (such as a nicotine patch, a nicotine inhaler, nicotine gum, nicotine nasal spray, or non-nicotine medicines) .
Myth #3: If you can't quit the first time you try, you will never be able to quit.
Quitting is hard. People often make two or three attempts to quit before they are successful. Using a combination of behavior coaching (such as the Colorado QuitLine) and pharmacotherapy treatments can improve the odds.
Myth #4: Quitting is expensive.
Treatments cost anywhere from $3 to $10 a day, and in comparison, the average smoker spends $2,000 to $3,000 a year on cigarettes. Fortunately, people who use the Colorado QuitLine can receive a free supply of nicotine patches. (To be eligible, people need to meet a few cautionary medical requirements and be at least 18.)
