I have a nephew who just started smoking. I sent him the following link as
a way to help him quit.

http://www.bacweb.org/news/journal_a..._1011/nib3.htm

Anyone who smokes understands how difficult it is to quit. If quitting were
a simple matter of willpower or "just saying no," most smokers would have
given up the habit long ago. In fact, of the 47 million smokers in America,
31 million have expressed a desire to quit, and for good reasons. By now, we
all are familiar with the potential health hazards associated with smoking:
chronic bronchitis, emphysema, lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, slowed
healing of wounds, infertility, ulcers and an increased risk of cancer.

The health risks are especially grave for pregnant women; smoking in
pregnancy harms the fetus and often leads to premature delivery, low birth
weight, learning problems, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and sometimes
death. Roughly 20 percent of all annual deaths are attributed to smoking.

There's also the issue of second-hand smoke. Subjecting co-workers, friends
and family to second-hand smoke exposes them to deadly illnesses even if
they do not smoke. Children whose parents smoke are at risk for sudden
infant death syndrome, increased susceptibility to colds, ear infections and
asthma. And like the smoker, children exposed to second-hand smoke also have
an increased risk of cancer. In addition, after having grown up in a smoking
household, children are much more likely to take up the unhealthy habit
themselves. It is not uncommon to see generations of families passing down a
heritage of illness and premature death due to smoking.

More Than a Bad Habit

Arguments in Favor of Quitting
There are a number of positive statistics to help current
smokers on their way to becoming cigarette addiction-free:
Within 20 minutes of quitting, your heart rates drops.
Within 12 hours, carbon monoxide levels in your blood
drops to a normal level.
Within two weeks to three months, your heart attack
risk begins to drop and your lung function begins to improve.
Within one to nine months, your coughing and shortness
of breath decreases.
Within one year, your added risk of coronary heart
disease is half that of a smoker's.
Within five years, your stroke risk is reduced to that
of a nonsmoker's.
Within 10 years, your lung cancer death rate is about
half that of a smoker's and your risk of cancers of the mouth, throat,
esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas decreases.
Within 15 years, your risk of coronary heart disease is
back to that of a nonsmoker's.


Unfortunately, knowing smoking can make a person sick or even result in
death does not always create enough incentive to help a person quit. "This
is because smoking is more than a bad habit - it is an addiction," says
BAC's
Member Assistance Program Director Karen Grear. "Some experts, in fact,
credit nicotine as being more addictive than illegal drugs, such as cocaine
and heroin. When a smoker lights up, the nicotine in the cigarette reaches
the smoker's brain faster than an injection of heroin. And, like the heroin
addict, smokers become physically and psychologically addicted to nicotine,
making it harder to quit."

Withdrawal symptoms from smoking can cause tension, fatigue, difficulty
sleeping, headache, cough and dry throat. Psychological dependence often
causes cravings, mood swings and irritability.

Tips For Quitting

Conquering this addiction can be a daily battle, but the good news
is that smoking addiction can be beaten. The U.S. Health and Human Services
Administration suggests five steps for quitting smoking:

Get ready: Pick a specific day to quit smoking. Rid your home, car and
office of cigarettes, lighters and ashtrays. Be prepared to give up smoking
entirely, and make a vow against taking a single puff.