| Are you ready to leave Stogie Land?
Debra Lafler
Health Educator
No, not story land... “Stogie Land.” What is
“Stogie Land?” Stogies, (as well as stogs,
smokes, butts, and fags) are slang names for cigarettes.
“Stogie Land” is the term I am calling the
state-of-being of those who are cigarette, cigar or
tobacco smokers.
Why do we love smoking?
We humans love smoking for many reasons, including the
following:
1. Smoking gives us identity
2. Smoking gives us a sense of community.
3. Smoking gives us a nicotine high.
4. Smoking gives us an escape.
5. Smoking provides us with security and stability.
6. Smoking provides us with oral stimulation.
7. Smoking gives our hands something to do.
8. Smoking gives us a habit.
Why is it so hard to quit?
We all know that nicotine is a highly addictive drug. It
alone makes quitting difficult. Our physical body is used
to the drug. Without it we go through withdrawal effects
--and who wants that? Furthermore, quitting does not just
mean quitting smoking; it means changing our life, our
habits, our patterns.
So why quit? Smoking is killing us!
Tobacco contains nicotine, proven to be highly addictive,
and 4,000 other chemicals, of which 60 are cancer-causing
agents, as well as some 200 poisons, such as acetone (as
in nail polish and paint), ammonia (as in pesticides and
cleaning agents), arsenic (as in insecticides and weed
killers), carbon monoxide (as in car exhaust), cyanide
(used in fumigation and photo development), formaldehyde
(chemical used on dead humans and animals in labs and in
the embalming process), methane (natural gas) and tar. In
short, smoking is killing us. Cigarette smoking kills
over 400,000 Americans each year --more than are killed
by cancer, heart disease and lung disease combined.
Smoking has numerous negative side effects, including:
Increased heart rate;
High blood pressure
Reduced ability to taste and smell
Shortness of breath
Development of morning or chronic cough
Difficulty breathing while moving
Gastric ulcers
Gum disease
Increased nervousness or anxiety
Impotence in men
Infertility in women
Increased asthma
Premature aging of the skin (wrinkles)
Lung cancer
Mouth and throat cancer
Stomach cancer
Why should YOU quit?
Other than the physical and medical reasons, each smoker
has his or her own reasons. Here are two good ones:
Yourself. It is never too late to quit smoking. You will
look better --no more yellow fingers or teeth. You will
feel better --no more shortness of breath, coughing, or
nervousness. You will enjoy life more --you will be able
to smell and taste things better.
Your family. Your family needs you. If smoking causes you
to die prematurely, your family suffers, too.
Furthermore, when you smoke, your family is exposed to
your second hand smoke. Second hand smoke is as bad as
smoking, and children who grow up around smokers are more
likely to be smokers themselves.
Preparing to QUIT!
First, you’ll have to choose a smoking cessation
method. Here are things that you’ll need to think
about:
how long you have been smoking;
how many cigarettes you smoke a day;
what triggers your urges to smoke;
whether you smoke on a regular schedule or randomly;
whether you experience intense morning cravings;
whether you’ve tried to quit in the past; and
why you may have had problems quitting or cutting down
other times you tried to quit.
The most common quitting methods are:
Cold Turkey. If you are a pack-a-day smoker, this means
going from 20 cigarettes to 0 all at once, relying on
your will power to fight your addiction.
Gradual. This method involves decreasing the number of
cigarettes that you smoke over time.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy. The “patch” and
nicotine gum are available over-the-counter and are the
most commonly used products to help reduce the nicotine
cravings and ease symptoms of withdrawal, without
exposing your body to the other chemicals, cancer-causing
agents, and poisons in cigarettes. Your pharmacist can
help you choose which product is best for you
Other steps.
Make your decision to quit concrete!
Sign a contract with yourself to quit, and hang it in a
place where you will see it every day.
Tell your family and friends: don’t keep quitting a
secret.
Try not to hang out with smokers: being around cigarettes
while you are trying to quit will make it more
challenging for you to not smoke. Eventually it may be
easier for you to be around smokers and not have the urge
to smoke.
Avoid bars and other gathering spots. Instead, go to the
movies, to dinner, museum, or other places where smoking
is not allowed.
Follow through
Find a support group of people who quit.
Fight cravings by practicing the 4 Ds.
The 4 Ds
Deep breaths-- inhale and exhale slowly.
Drink lots of water throughout the day (especially during
a craving).
Do something else to get through the craving: call a
friend, chew gum, go for a walk, etc.
Delay reaching for a cigarette; the urge will pass.
[Sources for article: American Cancer Society &
American Lung Association]
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
American Lung Association
http://www.lungusa.org/tobacco.html
and http://www.lungusa.org/tobacco.html
American Cancer Society
http://www.cancer.org
http://www.cancer.org
http://www.cdc.gov/health/smoking.htm
AT LEHMAN
Student Health Center
Building T3 - Room 118
(718) 960 - 8900
Counseling Center
Old Gym Building - Room 114
(718) 960 - 8761
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