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Here's to the Quitters! Stop Smoking Today for Your Health.

Date: 11/19/25

Anyone who has tried to stop smoking knows it’s not easy. Smoking becomes a part of our everyday life, from what we do with our hands to how we handle ourselves in social settings to how we relax or get through stressful times.

Quitting is hard. But here are some reasons to stop smoking:

Quit for your life. It’s the single most important thing you can do for the length and quality of your life. The minute you quit, your body benefits.

Quit for the money. Smoking costs you. And the price is going up. A pack-a-day habit will cost most smokers almost $2,000 a year and sometimes more.

Quit for your loved ones. Cigarette smoke hurts everyone who smells it. There is no safe level of secondhand smoke. Kids who live with smokers get more colds and infections. Even in small amounts, cigarette smoke increases risk for coronary heart disease, stroke and lung cancer.

Here are some tips to help you quit smoking once and for all:

Before you quit:

  • Get rid of all your cigarettes, lighters and matches.
  • Make a list of ways to distract yourself when you have cravings.
  • If you get texts, emails or mailings from tobacco companies, opt out now.
  • Tell people you are quitting. Ask them for support. If they smoke, ask them not to smoke around you.
  • Have a friend or someone you can call for support when you have cravings.

Once you quit:

  • Avoid places where you will be tempted to smoke.
  • Keep things like straws, pencils and cinnamon sticks handy for times when you’d normally smoke.
  • Avoid stores and other places that sell cigarettes if you can.

When you have cravings:

  • Pull out your list of ways to distract yourself.
  • Talk with your doctor about medicine to help you quit or a higher dose if you need it.

Resources to help you

As a Louisiana Healthcare Connections member, you have access to resources through your health plan. We cover some medicines and counseling to help you quit. Talk to your doctor about these services. You can earn a $25 healthy reward for counseling or filling a prescription to help you quit smoking.

We also offer the Craving to Quit program through Sharecare, our free health and wellness app. It is a 21-day smoking cessation program that helps you quit for good. You can also earn a $10 reward for completing the program.