Stop Smoking Aids - How to Dramatically Increase Your Chances Of Quitting

There are various types of stop smoking aids that can help you kick the habit. These fall into a number of categories: self help, nicotine replacement and drugs.

Self help

Join an online forum or quit with a friend. This can give you the motivation to keep going when the going gets tough. Support others and you will get help yourself

Write a 'benefits list'. Write down all the things you will gain from not smoking. This could be health related, extra money, approval of spouse etc. Make it very specific to you e.g. exactly how much you will save. Stick it on the wall in a prominent place and make sure you read it every day.

Nicotine replacement.

This is one of the most popular types of stop smoking aid. By using a nicotine replacement product when you quit, you help to stop the craving for nicotine. You can buy nicotine replacement gum over the counter at pharmacies or at Wal-Mart. It is also available as patches, nasal sprays and tablets. After a few months you can reduce your use of these products with a view to stopping altogether after 6 months or so.

Drugs

There are a number of drugs that can help you give up smoking by decreasing your desire to smoke. These include varenicline (which is marketed as Chantix in the USA and Champix in the UK) and buproprion (which is marketed as Zyban). These are prescription medicines so you will need to visit your doctor in order to use them.

As good as they are, these stop smoking aids still rely on you having the willpower to give up. You have to be prepared for difficult situations like friends offering you cigarettes on social occasions and how you are going to cope with stress at work and at home.