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• Make your quit day special. Treat yourself right. You're doing something great for yourself. The first step in becoming a non tobacco user is to plan ahead and keep an action plan handy that includes your personal reasons for quitting, a list of your most common triggers, and coping techniques that work best for you. Then when things get tough, you will be able to reinforce your decision to quit dipping/chewing and "take charge" of the situation..
  
  
• Change your daily routines. This will help to break your triggers. Change the way you shower, dress, and eat breakfast. When you finish eating get right up from the table and do an activity that will keep you from reaching for that chew/dip. Brush your teeth, wash dishes, or tackle a project! Use time on the bench to take a few laps around the field.
  
  
• Make an appointment with the dentist for a checkup and cleaning. You will enjoy the fresh, clean feeling and a whiter smile. Everyday your teeth and gums will get brighter, fresher, and will be healthier.
  
  

Tobacco has three "hooks" on its users: Physical addiction, psychological dependency, and habitual behavior. Early signs of tobacco addiction: You no longer get sick or dizzy like you did when you first used dip or chew, you find yourself dipping, or chewing more often, or you've switched to stronger products. Signs of hardcore addiction: You fire in your first dip or chew early in the day, you find it hard to go more than a few hours without it, you start to feel like you need it, and you have strong cravings when you try to quit. To break this addiction all you need is a week or two off tobacco. Nicotine replacement therapy can help. There are several products including nicotine gum, nicotine patch, and nicotine nasal spray. A medication called Zyban used along with these products can help even more. This therapy helps take care of the nicotine addiction so that you can work on breaking the habit. These products are designed to reduce cravings for tobacco and relieve the withdrawal symptoms people experience while trying to quit. Research has shown that tobacco users who use some form of nicotine replacement therapy and participate in a behavior change programs can double their chances of quitting for good. You can now obtain these nicotine replacement products both with a doctor's prescription and over the counter. Contact Student Health Services or Health Education Services for assistance with nicotine replacement products or Email jpalmore@gmu.edu. for any questions, we can help!

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Health Education Services
(703) 993-3690/3686
SUB I, Room 219J