Great American Smokeout
begins Thursday

LAFAYETTE, Ind (WLFI) - If you think you're ready to quit smoking, the Great American Smokeout could be just the right thing to help you kick the habit once and for all. 

The challenge from the American Cancer Society is to get smokers to quit, or at least cut back, for the day.  Although smoking has decreased nationwide, Indiana continues be one of the top five states with the most smokers.
Dr. Andrew Fischer with Sigma Pulmonology has some encouraging news:  people who quit smoking will see the benefits immediately.

"It's never too late to quit. The changes that occur in your body when you quit, some of them happen very quickly. You decrease your risk of heart attack and stroke within hours," Fisher said.

It takes an average of six attempts to toss the habit completely.

"It's an addiction and I think it needs to be treated like an addiction with a multi-disciplinary approach utilizing counseling and utilizing nicotine supplements as well as other FDA-approved medications," Fisher said. 

Dr. Fischer said the quitting process varies from person to person. There are some people like Jim Clements who smoked for 40 years and managed to quit cold turkey once cigarettes got too expensive.

"I just laid them down, I just quit," Clemens said. 

Regardless of the motivation--whether it's health concerns or a tight budget-- Tristan Kirby with the Tobacco Free Partnership of Tippecanoe said everyone needs a little help from others to quit. The Indiana Tobacco Quitline is a free support resource for Hoosiers looking for help.

"If they set up a quit plan with the quitline, the quitline begins to call them and check in on them so it's very proactive and can help people maybe at times when they might feel the urge to slip," Kirby said.

Quit coaches are on hand seven days a week and will help organize a plan to quit smoking.  They can also help cope with cravings, and avoid undesirables side affects like weight gain.

To contact the Indiana Tobacco Quit-line, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW.
While supplies last, people who call the quitline and start a quit plan will receive a free two-week supply of Nicotine patches or gum.