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Quit Guide: Preparing to Quit

Overview of the Basic Steps

Just thinking about quitting may make you anxious. But your chances will be better if you get ready first. Quitting works best when you're prepared. Before you quit, START by taking these five important steps:

S = Set a quit date.
T = Tell family, friends, and coworkers that you plan to quit.
A = Anticipate and plan for the challenges you'll face while quitting.
R = Remove cigarettes and other tobacco products from your home, car, and work.
T = Talk to your doctor about getting help to quit.

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In the Quit Guide...
Thinking about quitting
Why quit?
What's in a cigarette?
Reasons for quitting
Why is quitting so hard?
Preparing to quit
•The basic steps
Medicines that can help
Other support
Quitting
Steps on quit day
Managing cravings
Withdrawal symptoms
What to do if you slip
Staying quit
Sticking with it
Resources if you slip
NCI NIH HHS USA.gov