Clone of The Plan: Step #3 – Staying Smoke Free

Preventing relapse is a very important part of the quit smoking plan. Relapse is the reason all attempts to quit fail....so take this seriously for a long, long time after you successfully quit. Be on your guard and you will stay smoke free and healthier than you've been for a long time.

Step#3: Staying Smoke-Free
Description & Examples	Pros & Cons
Preventing Relapse The group program, individual counseling from a healthcare provider, telephone counseling or self-help materials you choose should include information on how to prevent a relapse and what to do if a relapse occurs.	Refer to Step #1: Preparing to Quit
Encouragement from Family and Friends	Pros: Convenient/available Understand you well and can anticipate your needs Reinforce your desire to quit when you feel tempted to smoke againCons: May become overly critical if your quit attempt fails If they try to quit for you instead of for themselves, they may relapse and undermine your efforts
Worksite & Community Many worksites and communities offer quit-smoking programs. These often include group programs such as those offered by the American Lung Association or support programs such as Nicotine Anonymous. Smoke-free worksite and community promotional campaigns may also include "buddy systems" and other activities to help people stay smoke-free.	Pros: Helpful to have encouragement in the places—your job or community—where you spend most of your time Helpful—and healthful—to work in smoke-free workplaceCons: Programs may not be available or may be hard to find in your area Worksite may not be smoke-free or may not encourage nonsmoking
Telephone Encouragement or "Health Lines" In addition to telephone counseling for developing aQuit Smoking Action Plan, many employers, HMOs, communities, and makers of nicotine and non-nicotine medications offer ongoing telephone counseling to encourage staying smoke-free.	Pros: Convenient Private Provide support when family and friends do not or cannotCons: May not be available in your health plan, company, or community