Solving The Puzzle — Cessation
It can be very hard to quit smoking. For some adults, knowing that quitting will help improve the health of their children may offer more motivation to quit and stay tobacco-free. In youth, tobacco cessation can be a tough subject, but the best materials are ones that are designed with the unique concerns of the population in mind. Find resources to offer adults and youth, as well as free materials you can order to assist quit attempts.
Web Sites That Can Assist Adults in Quit Attempts
A child's parent or family member may have a hard time figuring out where to turn for cessation support after they leave the doctor's office. These Web sites offer support, encouragement, and quit tips to those trying to quit.
Smokefree.gov
This National Institutes of Health Web site was developed using evidence-based research, and features "LiveHelp," which connects smokers with a cessation counselor via Instant Messaging.Become an Ex
Become an Ex is sponsored by the American Legacy Foundation and utilizes a systematic program to help prepare a customized quit plan for each person.North American Quitline Consortium
This Web site provides an interactive map of the world, which allows you to view Quitline profiles by country, region, and state, and includes resources such as free or discounted cessation aids and specialized materials.Quitnet
The Quitnet site includes a quitting guide, a national directory, pharmaceutical product overview, and Web resource directory with links to other online resources programs and self-help materials. Registered users can access customized advice, peer support, quitting tools and tips, and referrals to live counselors.
Note: You can view these resources and more on the How to Quit page, or as a handout.
Web Sites That Assist Youth in Tobacco Cessation
Youth are never wrong, and are invincible — from their point of view, anyway. These resources tackle the topic of quitting tobacco from a youth standpoint, and help youth think about why they use tobacco, and the immediate (as well as the future) health, social, and financial effects.
- Smokefree Teen
With tools to help you make decisions, and the information to make them intelligently, this site is a great resource for teens who currently smoke, who are pressured to smoke, or can't make up their mind about quitting. Note that this site does not discuss nicotine replacement therapy (NRT); if you're interested in finding out more about NRT, talk to your doctor.
Smokefree Teen on Facebook SmokefreeTXT
For the teens who would rather get their quit info via text message, SmokefreeTXT sends six weeks of teen-friendly quit texts to their cell phones.- I Quit
Designed for teens, I Quit helps you kick butts. This interactive site offers quit advice, including daily tips, reasons to quit, and advice about what to expect when quitting. The site also has printable quit plans for a cold turkey method and for a countdown method.
I Quit Brochure Become an Ex- Must be 13 or older
Become an Ex is sponsored by the American Legacy Foundation and utilizes a systematic program to help prepare a customized quit plan for each person.My Last Dip
My Last Dip is a Web site that deals with teenage chewing tobacco users. The site is funded by a National Cancer Institute grant, and offers participants monetary rewards for participating in online surveys.TeenQuit
TeenQuit was developed to assist youth in cessation efforts. The site is modeled after the Stages of Change model to addresses the needs of youth at each stage, and includes messages boards and a Gallery of Gore that highlights the consequences of tobacco use.
Note: You can download these sources in a handout (pdf) to give to patients and families.
Web Sites That Address Youth Tobacco Prevention
Forget Advanced Placement — youth who don't use tobacco are the smartest ones out there. These Web sites encourage youth to stay tobacco-free by discussing health effects, how to resist peer pressure, and how to tell the Truth from the Big Tobacco lies.
- Smokefree Teen
With tools to help you make decisions, and the information to make them intelligently, this site is a great resource for teens who currently smoke, who are pressured to smoke, or can't make up their mind about quitting. Note that this site does not discuss nicotine replacement therapy (NRT); if you're interested in finding out more about NRT, talk to your doctor.
Smokefree Teen on Facebook ASPIRE (A Smoking Prevention Interactive Experience)
This free Web-based multimedia program for youth uses animations, videos, and interactive activities to communicate the facts about smoking and tobacco use, as well as offers skills to adopt a tobacco-free lifestyle.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Youth Tobacco Prevention
Free materials from the CDC to educate youth on the dangers of tobacco and why it's important to never start smoking.PBS Kids — It's My Life
This Web site through PBS deals with topics that kids deal with on a daily basis. The section on smoking discusses health hazards, how to deal with peer pressure, and how to help someone quit.Truth
The Truth® campaign is the largest national youth-focused anti-tobacco education campaign ever. It is designed to engage teens by exposing Big Tobacco's marketing and manufacturing practices, as well as highlighting the toll of tobacco in relevant and innovative ways.- Smoking Stinks
Smoking Stinks highlights the gross things smoking can do to your body. This Web site also gives helpful hints to help teens stay smoke free, and offers downloads, e-cards, and games to help illustrate its message.
Note: You can download these sources in a handout (pdf) to give to patients and families.
Free Cessation Materials To Offer Tobacco Users and Their Families
These materials are available in English or Spanish, and offer additional quit tips, resources, and facts about tobacco use. Each of these items is available in hard copy form for the cost of shipping only through the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Clearinghouse at 800/358-9295 or AHRQPubs@ahrq.hhs.gov.
- Help for Smokers and Other Tobacco Users (pdfs)
- Quitting Helps You Heal Cards (pdfs)
These cards are designed to assist hospitalized smokers to use the opportunity to quit for good. - You Can Quit Smoking Cards (pdfs)
- You Can Quit Smoking (pdfs)
These two-sided tear sheets are available in pads of 100, and are geared toward all smokers. - You Can Quit Smoking for Expectant Mothers (pdfs)
These two-sided tear sheets are available in pads of 100, and are geared toward pregnant smokers.
