Quitting Smoking: How Support Groups Can Help

1. How Smoking Affects Your Looks and Life Slideshow
2. Tips to Quit Smoking Slideshow Pictures
3. Take the Quiz on Smoking

• Topic Overview
• Related Information
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Topic Overview

Support groups provide encouragement when you have decided to quit smoking. Support groups can:

• Increase your chances of success.
• Keep you motivated.
• Allow you to express your feelings with others who understand.
• Give you hope and the confidence to quit.
• Improve your coping skills.
• Decrease your feelings of isolation.
• Help you stay on track.

Support groups are available in many communities. Your local health department may have information on support groups in your area. Check with your doctor, your employee assistance program (EAP), your health insurance company, or a local hospital. Or you can call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345.

If a support group is not available at a time you can attend, look into joining a telephone support group or an online support group, such as a community support group or a smoking cessation forum. Some forums offer quit-smoking journals that are posted so members can share their experiences.

Related Information

• Quitting Smoking
• Quitting Smoking: Getting Support
• Quitting Smoking: Helping Someone Quit

Credits