EASY WAYS TO QUIT SMOKING

Begin by taking fewer smoke breaks and by reducing the num ber of ciggies you smoke in a day.

Always set realistic targets and bring down the number every day, every week, and every month.

Avoid places that trigger you to take a puff.

Get a smoker friend to quit with you. Make a #youquitIquit pact with your close pals, especially with the one who doesn't approve of your smoking. Tell them that you will quit smoking if they quit one bad habit of theirs.

Many smokers get an urge to light up after a meal. To avoid it, have fruits or your favourite dessert or a chocolate.

Never go to a nicotine replace ment therapy. If you feel depressed, plan a short trip with your non-smoker friends or do some physical exercises.

Procedures like acupuncture, hypnosis and meditation can help you to get rid of the habit, provid ed you do it under proper guid ance.

EXPERTS SPEAK

Rather than trying hard to quit, it's better to not pick-up the habit. Youngsters must understand the problems they face once they get addicted to it, and think before using tobacco products. That's why we are trying hard to stop the sale of cigarettes around schools and educational institutions.We have formed a team of health inspectors to curb the usage of tobacco. Those who smoke in public must be fined, so that they will not do it the next time. Whenever we find a movie poster that has a star smoking, we immediately send notice to the actor or the producer, as such posters end up as an advertisement or promotion for tobacco products. We are planning to start a tobacco cessation clinic next year to serve as a de-addiction centre for smokers.

- State Tobacco Control Officer

The number of cancer cases due to tobacco has drastically increased in recent times and smokers have to accept that the habit is an illness. They must motivate themselves to quit. Many become psychologically dependant as the nicotine that reaches certain receptors of their brain keeps them alert and active. The only way to stop smoking is to understand about the addiction, and get help from a psychologist or a psychiatrist. The patients will be given a nicotine substitute that will slowly help them get rid of their addictive habit.

- psychiatrist