Each person needs to find their own reasons to quit and must decide for themselves when to stop. If you have co-workers, friends, or family who use tobacco/nicotine, share your concern, but don’t make them feel guilty or bad about it. You can help them most by making sure they know you are going to be there to support them when they are ready to quit.
Tips for helping a friend or loved one quit
- Encourage them and help them stay positive. Positivity will help as they start to make a quit plan and prepare for their quit date
- Suggest they talk to their healthcare provider and get quit-smoking medicines to help them quit. Using quit-smoking medicines can help with withdrawal symptoms and doubles a person’s chances of quitting for good
- Celebrate their victories. The first 24 hours nicotine-free, getting through a stressful day without using tobacco products, handling tough withdrawal symptoms, and many more goalposts on the way to a nicotine-free life.
- Offer distractions from cravings. You could help relieve stress by taking a walk together or stopping by to talk.
- Help them create new routines to manage cravings. As they begin their quit journey, try to avoid places or social situations where they used to use tobacco/nicotine. Or help them prepare to manage cravings in these places and situations.
Things to remember as you offer your support
- Don’t take it personally if your friend is in a bad mood. For many people, quitting smoking is one of the most difficult things they’ll ever do.
- Don’t be discouraged if they slip and start using tobacco/nicotine products again. It often takes people several tries to quit for good. You can be there to listen and to motivate them to get back to their quit plan and think about the future. They’ll need your understanding, your encouragement, and to know you’ll be there when they’re ready to try again.
- Make sure they know you’re proud of them. Especially when they are having a hard time with quitting.
As time passes and your friend stays tobacco-free, remind them of what they’ve achieved and let them know you’re still there for support!
Resources for youth
Find facts about the real dangers of vaping for youth and get them help to quit, including resources from GetOutraged.org.
Resources for young adults
Explore resources for young adults who are thinking about quitting vaping or using other tobacco or nicotine products.
Resources for adults
Connect to the Massachusetts’ tobacco and nicotine Quitline and find information for adults looking to quit smoking, vaping, or using other tobacco or nicotine products.