1. I'm trying to quit smoking, but my spouse/partner still smokes. How can I quit successfully when I'm around others who smoke?
You are right to be concerned about the effect of family and friends' smoking on your efforts to quit.
First, consider inviting your partner to commit to quit with you. It is possible that your motivation will be “catchy” and that you can then team up to reduce your risk of tobacco-related disease. If your partner is not interested or not yet ready to quit, do not despair. Even if your partner is not willing to quit for himself or herself, he or she may still be interested in seeing you succeed. Be sure to explain to your partner why quitting is so important to you.
Make a list of dos and don'ts so you can be clear about what kind of support for quitting you will find most helpful. For instance, consider asking your partner to restrict smoking to a specific area in your home. Alternatively, partners can provide encouragement and praise for each nonsmoking day, week, month that you achieve.
2. I’ve heard about the nicotine patch, but I’m concerned about using it – doesn’t nicotine cause cancer?
Many people worry about what effects, if any, nicotine replacement will have on their health, and, specifically, whether nicotine increases cancer risk. Nicotine replacement products have not been shown to cause cancer and are felt to be a safe short-term aid for managing cravings. The numerous other chemicals found in tobacco products, however, do cause cancer. So, if there are no contraindications to your using nicotine replacement, it is far better to utilize this and other tools to quit a potentially life-threatening habit. Read more about nicotine replacement therapies.
3. Do insurance programs typically cover smoking cessation counseling?
Currently, most insurance companies do not cover smoking cessation counseling, per se. However, because our smoking cessation program is administered by licensed psychologists and addresses many of the underlying issues relating to smoking behavior — if these include stress, anxiety, and depression — treatment in our program may be covered under your carrier's outpatient mental health benefits. Check with your insurance carrier to learn more about your particular coverage.
