Cold Turkey Is for the Birds

Stop smoking for good with counseling and nicotine replacement therapies

Richard* smoked one pack of cigarettes a day for 32 years.

 “I thought about quitting before,” the 50-year-old hospital colleague says, “but never had the incentive to do it.”

When Richard heard LVHHN would become smoke-free beginning Jan. 1, 2007, he became one of 149 colleagues to enroll in our Tobacco Treatment Program (covered under Choice Plus). Instead of quitting cold turkey, Richard met with a counselor who offered support, provided tips and supplied him with nicotine patches and lozenges.

Richard has been tobacco-free for four months. He says, “Had I tried to quit cold turkey, I would have failed.” Statistically, he’s right. On average, people try to quit seven times before they succeed. “Our Tobacco Treatment Program significantly increases your chances of quitting for good,” tobacco treatment counselor Dianna Mulhern says. Here’s why:

You decide to quit
Cold Turkey—You throw away your cigarettes.
Counseling—You meet with a tobacco treatment counselor and set a quit date two weeks from now. During that time, you mentally prepare to quit smoking.

Quit date
Cold Turkey—You’re having no problems and think it’s going to be easy.
Counseling—Your counselor calls to offer support. She encourages you to stay committed.

Day 4
Cold Turkey—The cravings are overwhelming. You’d do anything to have a cigarette with your morning coffee.
Counseling—Your counselor’s tips are working. Instead of smoking with your morning coffee in the kitchen, you enjoy some java while watching the news in the living room.

Day 7
Cold Turkey—You’re irritable and depressed. The nicotine patch you bought at the drug store isn’t working.
Counseling—The stronger nicotine replacement product your counselor recommended is working. She calls to offer encouragement. You realize your senses of smell and taste have improved.

Day 14
Cold Turkey—While having a drink at the local pub, you break down and buy a pack of cigarettes.
Counseling—You’re craving a cigarette after a stressful day. You call your counselor. She reminds you why you quit and encourages you to do something to get your mind off cigarettes.

Day 30
Cold Turkey—You’re smoking just as much as you did before you quit.
Counseling—Your counselor lowers the dose of your nicotine replacement product. Your cravings are nearly gone.

Day 365
Cold Turkey—Every cigarette you smoke can take 5-20 minutes off your life.
Counseling—Your risk for heart disease is about half that of a tobacco user and continues to decrease. Congratulations!

*Richard’s last name has been omitted to respect his identity.

To sign up for our Tobacco Treatment Program, click on the smoke-free icon on the intranet at www.lvh.com or call 610-402-CARE.

ARTICLE TOOLS: