Helping Your Patients Stop Smoking

Quitting Tobacco – Slips and Relapses

Quitting smoking has health benefits at any age, no matter how long or how much you have smoked. If you slip or relapse, don’t be afraid to try and quit again. Each quit attempt gets you one step closer. It can take many attempts before quitting tobacco successfully.

A slip is different than a relapse. A slip might be “just a puff or two” or even a couple of cigarettes. A relapse means going back to smoking or vaping regularly. Slips are a common part of quitting as you learn to live life without tobacco. Prepare yourself to recover from slips and avoid a relapse by managing cravings and knowing your triggers.

Tips for Slips

• Don’t be hard on yourself
  • Keep moving forward. If you’ve had a slip, ask yourself; What could I have done differently? How can I prevent it from happening again?
• Think about your successes
  • Remember the moments when you beat nicotine cravings and avoided triggers. Use the same methods to overcome future cravings and triggers.
• Focus on the positive
  • Stay strong, it doesn’t mean you’ve failed. Many people who quit have a few slips at some point. Remind yourself how you quit the first time and stick with the same plan to avoid future cravings and triggers. Don’t give up on your quit goal.
• Talk to family and friends
  • Ask for their support and talk to them about how they can support you.
• Don’t forget your reason for quitting
  • Stay motivated and focus on your goal to quit.
• Get Back on Track
  • If you slip or relapse, don’t be afraid to try and quit again. Each quit attempt gets you one step closer. It can take many attempts before quitting tobacco successfully.

Managing Nicotine Cravings

Withdrawal symptoms are usually the worst two-three days after your last tobacco use. Over time symptoms get weaker and happen less often. To help manage nicotine cravings:

• Limit alcohol and caffeine
• Plan healthy meals ahead of time
• Get exercise
• Use nicotine replacement therapy (gum, patches or lozenges)

Here are some ways to fight off a craving:

• Get outside or exercise
• Drink water
• Keep your mouth occupied with toothpicks, gum, hard candy or crunchy food
• Take deep breaths
• Listen to a favorite song
• Stay busy
• Call or text a supportive family member or friend
• Change your routine
• Use nicotine replacement therapy (gum, patches or lozenges)

Know Your Triggers

What makes you want to smoke, vape, or chew? Understand your personal triggers so you can avoid and control future cravings.

• Stress/anxiety
• Drinking alcohol
• Too much coffee or caffeine
• Smelling tobacco smoke
• Being in social situations
• Driving
• Work breaks

For additional information and resources, please visit Tobacco Cessation - NGSMEDICARE.

NGS offers educational webinars twice per month to raise awareness and increase utilization of tobacco use counseling. We focus on the effects of nicotine dependence including affected health consequences and review Medicare coverage, coding, billing and documentation guidelines for tobacco use counseling for outpatient and hospitalized beneficiaries. NGS and the CMS resources are provided with a brief question and answer period at the end of the session. You can register below or on our Events page.

Posted 4/30/2025