How to quit (without the turkey)

"I quit cold turkey," said student Brittney Best. "I was smoking Marlboro Menthol Lights, about six or seven a day." Cutting cigarettes out of one's life is almost guaranteed to be difficult, but suddenly, completely and doing so without support can seem impossible. Best's method – and her success – are not common among those trying to quit. Students, however, have many helpful options if and when they decide to quit smoking. It is almost guaranteed that quitting will be difficult, but the tools needed to quit are usually accessible, so students don't necessarily have to quit "cold turkey".

Colorado Quit Line (1-800-QUIT-NOW) can help students become tobacco-free. The Quit Line will help callers develop a program to help them quit. They may even provide nicotine replacement items like gum and patches. The Quit Line also provides telephone support for times of overwhelming craving, almost like a sponsor.

Quitting without group support is also an option. Nicotine gum and patches can provide long-term relief from nicotine cravings. The gum is not actually gum that is chewed; instead, it is supposed to be chewed until gummy then held in between the lip and the gums, much like dip. If it is constantly chewed, a large dose of nicotine will be released all at once. This can cause nausea and vomiting. 

Nicotine patches are another option. Strategically placed on the arm or hip, patches release nicotine doses a little at a time. Some packages offer gradually-sized patches that emit lower and lower doses of nicotine, which helps with the quitting process.

There aredrawbacks to patches. Exercising while wearing patches causes an increased release of nicotine; this can actually lead to seizures, rapid heartbeats and nausea.

Addiction to cigarettes isn't just an addiction to nicotine. Other harmful chemicals in cigarettes like arsenic, tar, cyanide and ammonia are addictive additives that smoking bodies crave. Beyond the chemical addiction, the social and kinesthetic addiction can sometimes be the hardest parts to overcome. Because the habitual motion of smoking is also conditioned, there is a nicotine inhaler for those who crave the inhale and exhale of cigarettes. The inhaler contains menthol and nicotine that can be inhaled without smoke. It is shaped like a cigarette to give the sensation and chemical satisfaction of a regular menthol cigarette.

There are also several options that your doctor can prescribe. Zyban and Chantix are some brand-name drugs designed to ease quitting. Zyban is very close to the drug Wellbutran, an anti-depressant. According to Drugs.com, Zyban and Chantix cause several common side effects like nausea and insomnia.

There are many ways to quit smoking. Although alternative nicotine sources have helped many people live without cigarettes, they all have immediate side effects. When someone quits smoking, they tend to become irritable and have extreme cravings, but students who are trying to quit should look into the alternative side effects of nicotine replacement therapy.