Is It Time to Quit Smoking? Here Are the Best Options Available to Support You

The smoking problem in Australia is a lot more severe than most people probably realise. Although there has been a significant decrease in Australian smokers from 2001 to 2014, according to this research by the Australian Health Survey, the damaging effects of smoking is still prevalent today. And finding the means to quit the habit needs to stay a top priority.

The survey reveals that in 2014 and 2015, a massive one in seven (or roughly 14%) of Australians over the age of 15 smoked on a daily basis. An additional 2% smoked irregularly. These numbers break down to almost three million people who depend on a drug as dangerous as nicotine on a regular basis. 

Everyone knows that smoking is bad for you — in fact, studies show that even the occasional cigarette can negatively impact your health. If you’re currently a smoker, you know that you should quit. You probably even want to. But whether you’ve tried in the past and failed or just don’t know where to begin, it can seem like an uphill battle on the best of days, to say the least.

But it’s important for you to understand that while quitting smoking is difficult, one thing that it does not have to be is impossible. If you truly want to get rid of this for good, there are a few key things that you can keep in mind. 

The Old-Fashioned Way: Quitting Cold Turkey

One common way that many people use to successfully quit smoking involves going cold turkey. Pick an upcoming day on the calendar, tell yourself, “I’m not going to smoke after this day,” and stick with it.

Note that this is actually a much more effective method than you might think. According to one recent study that was conducted between people who quit cold turkey and people who gradually scaled back their consumption, the cold turkey method was actually more successful. Almost 50% of people in the “cold turkey” group were no longer smokers after a month, compared to 40% in the “gradual quit” group.

However, there are a few important things to consider. Even in the above study, the “cold turkey” group had help — they used patches, short-acting therapy, and counselling to get by. In addition, cold turkey does not work for everyone. But if you’re looking for a great way to at least start your journey towards becoming a non-smoker, there are few better ways than this. 

Nicotine Replacement Therapy

As stated above, even the people in the “cold turkey” experiment group had help along the way — which is why nicotine replacement therapy, otherwise known as NRT, is vital.

Items like nicotine replacement patches and chewing gums will actually help wean your body off its nicotine dependency gradually, all while cutting back on the actual physical urge you get to smoke.

At Chemsave, we offer a wide range of products designed for this purpose — from Nicabate CQ Patches to Nicotinell Classic Chewing Gum and more. These options are unquestionably effective in helping you cut back on your consumption to the point where you eventually quit, so there is absolutely no good reason why you shouldn’t at least explore them.

Therapy and/or Support

Quitting smoking can be a stressful and even emotional time for a person, which is also why therapy and the development of a support system is vital.

Don’t hide the fact that you’re quitting from your loved ones. Tell them and get them on board. Sometimes they can help give you the additional encouragement and motivation that you need to truly kick the habit once and for all.

You should also feel free to explore additional support options as well. Options like QuitCoach can really help curb your cravings for nicotine throughout the day. Support options like this are important to help you better understand why you feel the need to smoke in the first place. You should also feel free to call NSW Quitline as often as you need — you can do so at +13 7848.

Medicinal Options

Finally, there is also a wide range of different prescription medication options that you can explore depending on your needs. There are two main prescriptions available in Australia: Varenicline (which is commonly sold under the brand name Champix) and Bupropion (which is commonly sold under the brand name Zyban SR). 

Both of these medications are scientifically designed to help people just like you quit smoking and, in fact, successfully do so every day. They’re available to you, so they are at the very least worth considering.

Do note that these are only available with a prescription from a doctor, so always talk to your primary care physician first.

Likewise, medical options are always more successful if they’re used to support another method, like one of the methods outlined above (counselling or support, for example). 

Chemsave: Your Partner in Your Health

At Chemsave, we understand that quitting smoking is difficult, but this is one road that you don’t have to travel alone. We offer a wide range of different options for you to choose from depending on your needs, including nicotine replacement patches, gum-based options, and more. 

If you’d like to find out more about the techniques and tips that you can use to quit smoking successfully, or if you’d just like to learn more about any other essential health topics, don’t delay — contact Chemsave today.