How to help a friend quit smoking?

I don't smoke, but I too have a friend that wants to quit and has tried the different patches and gums. When you talk to people who use to smoke, they say the only thing that works is if the person really wants to quit. It's like anything else. A habit is hard to get rid of, especially an addictive one. I would suggest having your friend tell all their friends and co-workers they want to quit and those around your friend will dish out the support. It's easy to let yourself off the hook, but when you left those around you down, it's hard. Also, create an award system. Each week that goes by, you will do something for them. Make sure to pick things that will motivate them. Good luck!

Thank you for your advice and support. We continue to support her. When it does prove to be successful (and I know one day it will!), I'm going to be so happy!

Just continue to support her. Ask her "do you really need that?" if you see she's about to light up or go out for a smoke. Buy sunflower seeds and tie a bow around them for every week she goes without. Congratulate every little milestone. It's hard to do anything without a cheering squad and smoking is a really tough habit to break. Just give her an extra reason (you) to keep on quitting. I think she'll really respond to that.

This is relevant to me also because my husband is a smoker and I honestly feel that the habit keeps him from effectively doing a lot of things he'd like to--be more fit, meditate, and the like. Having any sort of addiction can really inhibit you from being at optimal levels, obviously, and it's sort of painful to see that in someone I love. But I agree with everyone else--it's crucial to be supportive. Your friend will quit when they are ready--all you can do is be encouraging and, of course, when you're hanging out, avoid places where there tend to be a lot of smokers (outside bars, night-club scenes, etc.).

Encourage her to see a health care professional, preferably her doctor. She should go armed with information on various methods of quitting and discuss each with her doctor - Nicotine Patch, Gum, Chantix, other prescription medications. Together they will come up with the best method for her individual situation. Quitting has to be her choice if quitting is going to happen for her.

You're a good friend, hang in there for the long haul because quitting is a process that she will carry for the rest of her life.