Quitting Smoking: How Support Groups Can Help

Topic Overview

Support groups provide encouragement when you have decided to quit smoking. Support groups can:

• Increase your chances of success.
• Keep you motivated.
• Allow you to express your feelings with others who understand.
• Give you hope and the confidence to quit.
• Improve your coping skills.
• Teach you ways that have helped others quit for good.
• Decrease your feelings of isolation.
• Help you stay on track.

Support groups are available in many communities. Your local health department may have information on support groups in your area. Check with your doctor, your employee assistance program (EAP), your health insurance company, or a local hospital. Or you can call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345.

If a support group is not available at a time you can attend, look into joining a telephone support group or an online support group, such as a community support group or a smoking cessation forum. Some forums offer quit-smoking journals that are posted so members can share their experiences. Or you can go to the website at www.smokefree.gov to sign up for the SmokefreeTXT program.