Educators are doing just that with a fistful of new ideas about smoking cessation. And for the first time, the strategies are based not only on theories of how people are supposed to quit, but on direct evidence of how they actually do quit. But quitting is a process, not a single act. There will be a last cigarette someday, but there will probably be plenty of others before then. The first tip is for friends of those smokers who wouldn't dream of quitting.
Scolding smokers is wasted effort.
But a firm request that they not smoke in your presence might be the nudge they need to begin to think about wanting to quit. Smokers in the next stage, contemplation, can take heart in knowing that just wanting to quit is a good start. Thinking about quitting makes one aware of one's own smoking pattern and pinpoints the situations and emotions that will need to be managed without a cigarette. Setting a quit date means real commitment. It is also the time to plan how to cope with cravings and how to avoid triggers that are temptations to smoke.