Quit Smoking

Live longer and better when you stop smoking with help from Johnston County resources. You’ll find peer support and nonjudgmental guidance from experts who can help you kick the habit for good.

Benefits of Quitting Smoking

Stopping smoking reduces your risk of health conditions such as:

• Cancer, including many types other than lung cancer
• Cataracts and blindness
• Heart attack
• Lung disease
• Miscarriage and birth defects
• Stroke

Quitting smoking also lowers health risks of people exposed to your second-hand smoke. When you stop buying cigarettes, you’ll save money and set a good example for children and loved ones.

Smithfield Classes

Attend free smoking cessation classes, sponsored by the American Lung Association, at the Johnston County Health Department.

QuitlineNC

Get free online or phone counseling through QuitlineNC, available 24/7 to any North Carolina resident working to give up tobacco.

Five Steps to Success

Follow a five-step plan to make it easier to join the 3 million Americans who quit smoking each year.

Step 1: Get Ready

Choose a date and mark your calendar. Get rid of cigarettes and ashtrays in your home, car, and workplace. If you’ve tried to quit smoking before, think about what worked and did not work for you.

Step 2: Get Support

Improve your odds of success by getting help. Tell your family, friends, coworkers, doctor, and therapist about your plans and ask for their support. Seek professional guidance from local anti-smoking counselors and programs, too.

Step 3: Practice New Behaviors

Try to distract yourself from urges to smoke. Talk to someone, go for a walk, or get busy with a task. When you first try to quit, change your routine so you experience fewer reminders of when and where you usually smoke. Take a different route to work, and eat meals at different places and times. Try to relax, do fun activities, and drink lots of water.

Step 4: Use Medications Correctly

Ask your doctor about medications that lessen the urge to smoke. You’ll learn how to take them safely and effectively.

Step 5: Take Steps to Prevent Relapse

Learn how to reduce your exposure to situations that may tempt you to smoke again:

• Avoid alcohol
• Eat healthfully and stay active to prevent weight gain
• Explore ways to reduce anxiety and depression without smoking
• Minimize your time with smokers