Quit smoking step-by-step with VA support
VA News ·
For the Great American Smokeout, learn how VA-supported approach and treatments can help you turn setbacks into learning experiences and quit smoking for good.
It’s not easy to stop smoking, but Veterans may find it less challenging with VA’s step-by-step approach, treatments and support. For the Great American Smokeout on November 19, VA wants Veterans to know that “Success Starts Here” with VA’s tobacco use treatment programs.
Most people can’t quit smoking by just deciding one day to stop. If you’ve tried and it didn’t work, don’t be discouraged. Here are some steps you can take to increase your chances of success:
Many efforts to quit smoking include stops and starts. But every craving you resist, every cigarette you pass up and every day you go without tobacco is a win. It shows that you have it within you to stop, with the right tools and support.
Even when you experience a setback, it’s teaching you something that can help you stop for good. Think of these experiences not as setbacks but as opportunities to learn.
“As long as you’re actively trying to stop, you’re going to accomplish something,” said Veteran Douglas Ferrier, whose persistence paid off after multiple setbacks when he found a medication that worked for him.
Now Ferrier is a positive “statistic,” able to count himself among the 78% of VHA-enrolled Veterans with a history of smoking who have stopped using tobacco. Learn more about how you too can use VA treatment and support to quit for good .