5 Library Resources to Help You Stop Smoking

Let's Talk About Smoking

It's no coincidence that smoking is referred to often as a "habit" rather than an "addiction." It is both, no doubt about that, but the habit part is the biggest roadblock to stopping. 

Think of any other activity you do multiple times a day and have done for years. Listening to music, for instance. Now think of stopping all music. No more singing along in the car, no more dancing in the shower or out with friends, and no more quick songs at work to break up the day. Music still exists, other people enjoy it around you (especially that weird lady who sings in the supermarket), but you have to stop the same way you started: because you decided to.

That's what stopping smoking is like. While there are over-the-counter and prescription medications to help you with nicotine cravings (talk to your doctor before using them), few smokers who stop think about all the little triggers they have that drive them back to the habit. Old places, activities, rituals, and other parts of your day have to be changed or avoided. It's a distraction from those triggers and developing new habits that the library can help you with.

The following are five library resources you can use to distract you when you have a craving:

Lung Cancer/COPD Awareness Month

Ever been around somebody smoking a cigarette? Don't they smell terrible? They don't look so hot, either. Well, November is LUNG CANCER AWARENESS MONTH and COPD AWARENESS MONTH, so you might take the opportunity to tap your friend on the shoulder and say, "Hey! You don't just look and smell bad, but you're killing yourself and possibly me!" Then, direct them to this blog so that they might explore the following links:

Lung Cancer

The National Cancer Institute's Lung Cancer Page--has so much good, solid information laid out so neatly that it makes you feel like a medical professional just to look at it. Includes an amazing Dictionary of Cancer Terms.

The American Cancer Society has chapters all over America with support and information for victims of the disease.

Medline Plus is the user-friendly interface of the National Library of Medicine.

And what if you DO get diagnosed? Cancer.net has a find an oncologist database that helps you find a doctor who can treat it.

COPD

What, exactly, IS COPD? Once again, the National Library of Medicine can help.

The American Lung Association's COPD Center has great information about the disease.

The Mayo Clinic's COPD page is very easy to use and well-organized.

About.com's COPD page is run by a registered nurse with respiratory therapy expertise...and a useful and informative blog.

This article from Medline tells us the number one cause of COPD: smoking.