Attention Getter
Health statistics show that out of every ten people at least three are habitual smokers and five have ever smoked. This implies that at least one third of the world’s population comprises of smokers. People smoke for different reasons such as fun, peer pressure and intoxication. Interesting enough, some chain smokers do not know why they smoke. Thus, for the world to realize a common positive improvement in population health, people must know the consequences of smoking not only for the smoker but also the society. Forums of this nature are important as they provide a chance through which people can be taught on how to quit smoking (Gately, 2010).
The Need
Smoking is harmful not only to one’s health and although smoking is both habitual and addictive, it is possible to completely stop smoking and live a healthy lifestyle.
Steps
The first step towards quitting smoking is being able to exhaustively comprehend the effects of smoking. No other proper medicine has ever been prescribed for quitting smoking apart from self-evaluation. Once a person realizes the dangers and risks that they expose themselves by smoking, they then embark on the important journey of quitting (Goldberg, 2011).
In order to stop smoking, one must consider the reasons why they smoke. If they have no reason to smoke, then they definitely need to smoke. In most cases, people smoke due to peer pressure or idleness. Thus, people are encouraged to avoid smoking groups and to find something they can engage themselves with especially during leisure time. Activities such as participation in sports shield the mind against thoughts of smoking.
Another important step is avoiding situations that tend to stimulate smoking. For example, a person who drinks and smokes will be tempted to smoke once in a drinking joint. Smoking is highly associated with alcoholism and people can be encouraged to reduce their drinking rates. More so, it is highly recommended that smokers who also drink alcohol try to jointly quit the two vices (Gately, 2010).
Quitting smoking does not happen in a fortnight. The habit gradually diminishes until it finally vanishes. The management of withdrawal symptoms becomes a vital aspect of the whole process. A person quitting smoking may occasionally feel the need to take one or two cigars. In such cases, it is medically recommended that one takes more fluids.
Outcomes
Quitting smoking makes an individual free of the several cancers associated with smoking. More so, the person experiences improved income management due to reduced expenditure on smoking. The whole society is also safe from the effects of perceiving smoking. Fires resulting from irresponsible smoking are also reduced.
Vendors will definitely complain of reduced revenue since their sales go down when people opt to quit smoking. Furthermore, people who quit smoking may also develop other vices if not well managed. In rare cases, such people may go for harder drugs due to mismanagement of withdrawal symptoms as they always tend to be restless.
In order to curb the negative effects associated with quitting smoking, measures should be in place to ensure the rehabilitates are occupied. Smoking is associated with lung complications hence people quitting smoking should exercise to maintain normal metabolic rates (Golberg, 2011).
A person is likely to overcome smoking if the quitting action is accompanied by continuous counseling sessions. Once one has opted to stop smoking, the whole society should accord him all the necessary support to help him quit the habit. Remember, the effects of smoking are far spread beyond the individual smoker. Finally, whoever never smoked and intends or shows signs of smoking should be appropriately advised to keep off the habit as this will save more people from this deadly menace.
Conclusion
In conclusion, smoking is not a permanent habit. Individual evaluation and management is the only known strategy to help quit smoking and smokers who contemplate quitting should come out and seek the appropriate help. The whole process begins with individual acceptance and willingness to change.
References
Gately, I. (2010). Tobacco: A Cultural History of How an Exotic Plant Seduced Civilization. London, UK: McGraw Hill.
Goldberg, R. (2011) Drugs Across the Spectrum. New York, NY: Thomson Brooks/Cole.