It's never too late to quit smoking. Quitting smoking now improves your health and reduces your risk of heart disease, cancer, lung disease, and other smoking-related illnesses.
Preparing to Quit
- Set a quit date: Choosing a specific date to quit can give you the opportunity to prepare for the challenge that lies ahead. As your quit date approaches, you may want to consider cutting back gradually in order to ease the transition.
- Get support: There are many programs and support groups available to help you quit smoking. At a minimum, you may want to tell your friends and family members in order to get their support.
- Reduce availability: When you make the decision to quit, throw away any cigarettes, lighters, ashtrays and other smoking-related items. Do not keep a pack "just in case," as this may make it harder to quit.
Resources
There are many resources available to assist you on your journey to being smoke-free.
ComPsych
All PWCS employees as well as their family members and members of their household have access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with ComPsych. You can visit the ComPsych (Guidance Resources) website and register to have access to all online Smoking Cessation materials and support. Register with ComPsych using the Organization Web ID: PWCS
- Breaking the Tobacco Habit
- How Can I Maintain My Commitment to Stop Smoking?
- Coping with a Tobacco Addiction
- How Does the Body Heal When a Person Stops Smoking?
- Can Hypnosis Help Me Quit Smoking?
Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield
PWCS employees and their dependents who are enrolled in an Anthem health plan have access to resources and support provided by Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield to assist on their quest to quit.
Kaiser Permanente
PWCS employees and their dependents who are enrolled in a Kaiser Permanente health plan have access to resources and support provided by Kaiser Permanente to assist them in their plan to quit.
- 11 Great Reason to Quit Using Tobacco
- Are You Ready to Quit Smoking?
- Create Your Quit Plan
- Fight the Urge
Outside Resources
Visit the websites below for more educational materials, interactive sources and tools that can assist you in your journey to become smoke-free!
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- BeTobaccoFree.gov (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)
- SmokeFree.gov (National Institutes of Health)
- National Heart Association
- American Cancer Society
- American Lung Association
- BecomeAnEX.org (in collaboration with Mayo Clinic)