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Quit Now

Quitting is hard. Many people try several times before they quit for good. But they do succeed.  Quitting is hard, but— You Can Quit.

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How to Quit: Talk to Your Doctor About Getting Help

Quitting "cold turkey" isn't your only choice. Talk to your doctor about other ways to quit. Most doctors can answer your questions, give advice, and suggest medicine to help with withdrawal. Some of these medicines you can buy on your own. For others, you need a prescription. 

Your doctor, dentist, or pharmacist can also point you to places to find support. If you cannot see your doctor, you can get some medicines without a prescription that can help you quit smoking. Go to your local pharmacy or grocery store for over-the-counter medicines like the nicotine patch, nicotine gum, or nicotine lozenge. Read the instructions to see if the medicine is right for you. If you're not sure, ask a pharmacist.  Find more resources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Talking to Your Doctor About Getting Help to Quit.

If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, consult your doctor before using any type of medication. Find out more about the health effects of smoking on pregnancy. 

Quitting is a Journey: Share Your Quit Story!

It doesn't matter where you start. Just start. Share your quit story and inspire others! Tell your smokefree story.

It's Never Too Late to Quit Smoking

If you or someone you know is thinking about quitting, use these tools and resources available from Smokefree.gov:

Quitting smoking now improves your health and reduces your risk of heart disease, cancer, lung disease, and other smoking-related illnesses. See I'm ready to quit! for additional resources from the CDC.

Infographic text-only version. 

Help Someone Quit


For Parents and Educators

Help for Smokers and Other Tobacco Users
This Public Health Service (PHS) guide, provided by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), outlines concrete steps to help smokers and other tobacco users quit.

Smokefree Teen 
This National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), site provides age-appropriate content, social media pages, and free mobile apps to help teens quit.  

Youth Tobacco Cessation: A Guide for Making Informed Decisions
This CDC resource provides guidance on developing programs to get teens to quit tobacco.

 

For Health Professionals

Easy Ways to Talk to Your Patients About Quitting
This CDC resource page can help health care providers talk to patients about quitting.

A Practical Guide to Working with Healthcare Systems on Tobacco-Use Treatment
This CDC resource provides key information and practical advice for public health professionals and employers on understanding healthcare systems, improving tobacco dependence treatment, and increasing cessation.

CDC’s Primary Care and Public Health Initiative: Seizing a Golden Opportunity to Help Smokers Quit
This CDC resource includes an educational module, teleconference materials, and resources for health care providers.

Cigarette Smoking: Health Risks and How to Quit 
This NCI resource provides information on tobacco cessation guidelines and pharmaceutical options for quitting.

Quick Reference Guide for Clinicians
This PHS guide, provided by AHRQ, summarizes the Clinical Practice Guidelines.

Helping Smokers Quit: A Guide for Clinicians
Clinicians can use the 5 A’s (Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, Arrange) outlined in this guide to encourage patients to quit tobacco use.

Quitting Helps You Heal Faster: Your Hospital Visit Is a Great Time to Quit Smoking
This PHS resource, provided by AHRQ, can be shared with your patients during hospital stays to encourage them to stop smoking.

Smoking in Cancer Care
This NCI resource describes the risks of continued smoking in adult cancer patients.

Support and Advice from Your Prenatal Care Provider
Clinicians can use this PHS consumer tear sheet, provided by AHRQ, as part of counseling about tobacco cessation. 

Support and Advice from Your Clinician
Clinicians can use this PHS consumer tear sheet, provided by AHRQ, as part of counseling about tobacco cessation.

Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: 2008 Update (Clinical Practice Guideline)
Sponsored by PHS, and provided by the National Library of Medicine, part of the NIH, this guideline contains strategies and recommendations for health care professionals to deliver and support treatments for tobacco use.