Resolve to quit tobacco this holiday season

Published on December 28, 2023

A screenshot of a video frame showing a woman and man hugging while standing outside.

As the holiday season comes to a close, you may find yourself reflecting on habits or contemplating changes for the upcoming year. Many individuals enter the new year wanting to quit smoking, vaping, or chewing; however, only a few succeed. The reason is not because it is impossible to quit, but because of the addictive nature of tobacco products, requiring the right support to quit successfully.

The Weld County Tobacco Education and Prevention Program (WCTEPP) is here to assist by connecting you with resources and support to aid in your journey to be tobacco free, including Freedom From Smoking® classes from the American Lung Association. Whether it's your first, tenth, or thirtieth attempt to quit, you can succeed, and it's never too late. Here are some tips from WCTEPP to assist you in quitting this year:

  • Know your reasons for quitting. Write them down and read them when it gets hard.
  • Find support from friends, family, or other people trying to quit.
  • Manage stress so you experience fewer potential triggers.
  • Focus on successes, not slips.
  • Avoid things that trigger you to smoke as much as possible.
  • Change your normal routine to break the habitual aspect of smoking.
  • Replace smoking with other things that make you feel good.

If you're ready to commit to quitting this new year, there are many resources and services available, including the Colorado Quitline, in-person or virtual Freedom From Smoking® support groups and classes, youth text-based quit lines, and more. Tobacco Free Colorado recently unveiled a series of videos featuring Coloradans who successfully quit using tobacco, including a former program participant from Weld County named Thom. In the video, Thom shares the story of his journey and how, at the age of 67, he was able to finally quit smoking. His advice: "Don't quit trying to quit."

To view Thom’s video, visit www.weldgov.com/go/TobaccoControl or contact the Weld County Tobacco Education and Prevention Program at (970) 400-2371 for additional information.

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