New York has often been a forerunner for the nation.  The fact that fewer teens are smoking is a move in the right direction.  The drop of tobacco use among teenagers is attributed mainly to the curbs on smoking in public areas and the skyrocketing taxes on cigarettes which adds around $3.00 to the price of each pack.

Among ninth to twelfth graders surveyed, the number of smokers dropped from 17.6 percent in 2001 to 8.5 percent in 2007.  The national average among teens is currently around 23 percent.

The drop is also credited to an aggressive attack on businesses selling cigarettes to minors.  In a program called Youth Tobacco and Prevention, the department of consumer affairs hires teenagers to try to buy cigarettes illegally within the view of public inspectors.  The crackdown has obviously had an effect.

Whatever the reason behind the decline, it’s a move in the right direction.  Our society seems to be slowly moving away from it’s addiction to nicotine, but the battle is far from over.

Talking with your teens openly about the dangers of cigarettes is the best defensive.  Let’s hope that this trend away from tobacco use continues and spreads to other parts of our world.

Stay Healthy.  

They are afraid of what the nicotine and other poisons are doing to their health, but they hold on to the pleasure their habit offers them while secretly hoping that they’ll be one of the lucky ones to escape the documented perils of continuing.

The reality is that there are very few easy ways to quit smoking. Most methods that people use to try to quit smoking are not as effortless as some would lead you to believe.  You will need more than a little determination and courage if you want  to succeed.

The truth is that today we want fast solutions to serious problems. Quick fixes, however, are not always available or as effective as we would like them to be.

High levels of stress are one of the problems smokers deal with when trying to quit smoking.  Even without this added stress, our lives can be pretty crazy. Stress is a constant visitor.  This is why it’s difficult to come up with an “easy” way to quit smoking.

Theoretically, there are a number of alternatives. Stopping “cold turkey” is a popular, but difficult solution.  While some people have cured themselves using this method, many others have failed and most are afraid to even try.

I think, however, that going cold turkey can actually be one of the easier ways to quit smoking.  Much easier than most people think. Although it hasn’t been scientifically confirmed to be highly effective, many smokers who have successfully quit have gone this route. Those who smoke over twenty cigarettes a day may find this to be a drastic measure, however.

Most successful quitters I know have also been highly-motivated by some extreme external factor as well.  Health issues tend to top this list. Once you feel that your life at risk, you may look at the cold turkey method as the best way to quit smoking. The “easy” ways to quit smoking will often depend on the individual and the various factors they are dealing with in life.

It is helpful to realize from the beginning that the easy way to quit smoking will require a certain level of sacrifice and determination to succeed. If you have a powerful and motivating factor such an an illness or health complication caused by tobacco, then your chances of quitting successfully are increased significantly. You do not, however, need to wait for a health problem to motivate you.  If you’re smart, you’ll see where the path is leading you and change your course before arriving at a destination you don’t want to reach.

If you opt for one of the so called easy ways to quit smoking such as hypnosis, acupuncture, or over the counter products, you could considerably reduce the severity of the withdrawal symptoms. If you haven’t decided yet which of the easy ways to quit smoking to try, you may try surfing the web to get a better idea of what is available. 

I highly recommend looking at a product called Quit-Smoking. Keep in mind, however, that there are no miracle pills. The easy ways to quit smoking will ultimately depend on you.

Stay Healthy