Smoking Cessation Presentations
Want to quit smoking but don-t know where to start? Are you sick of people telling you why to quit but not how to quit? St. Joseph's Hospital offers free one-hour smoking cessation presentations every month and cover a variety of methods to help you kick the habit.

During the presentation, we will discuss methods such as:

• The American Lung Association's Freedom From Smoking�(r)  group program, which meets at St. Joseph's Hospital.
• Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)
  • Over-the-counter strength is available in both chewing gum or patch form
  • Prescription strength is available in both spray or inhaler form
  • For smokers with a high nicotine addiction
  • Typically suggested for smokers with unsuccessful past attempts to quit because of cravings
  • When used in conjunction with a behavior change program, such as Freedom From Smoking�(r), success rate increases
  • There is a low addiction rate because nicotine uptake is slower
  • Money saved by quitting will offset the cost of NRT
  • The goal is to be free of cigarettes and NRT within 6 months
• Alternative Therapy (acupuncture or hypnosis)
  • Users of acupuncture often receive treatments twice a week for three weeks using acupoints known to affect organs directly influenced by tobacco smoke like the mouth, throat, airways and lungs
  • Patients often experience results within first three treatments
  • Hypnosis offers a state of attentive and focused concentration that is induced by the use of therapeutic suggestion
  • People who desire to quit smoking are the best subjects for hypnosis
  • Hypnosis is designed to help you take control of your addiction
• Additional Methods
  • Zyban (bupropion hydrochloride) - can boost your body-s levels of dopamine and norepinephrine, imitating the affects of nicotine. Users typically start the treatment two weeks before quitting, and then continue taking it for seven to 12 weeks.
  • SmartShot - a shot that consists of scopolmine (seasickness medication) and atarax (an antihistamine found in Benadryl).

Are you ready to quit smoking?

• Do I want to quit smoking for myself?
• Is quitting smoking a #1 priority for me?
• Have I tried to quit smoking before?    
• Do I believe that smoking is dangerous to my health?
• Am I committed to trying to quit even though it may be tough at first?
• Are my family, friends and coworkers willing to help me quit smoking?
• Besides health reason, do I have other personal reasons for quitting smoking?
• Will I be patient with myself if I backslide?

If you answered "Yes" to four or more of the above quesitons, you are ready to quit smoking.

Did you know? Smoking-related diseases claim an estimated 430,700 American lives each year. Smoking costs the United States approximately $97.2 billion each year in health-care costs and lost productivity. It is directly responsible for 87 percent of lung cancer cases and causes most cases of emphysema and chronic bronchitis.