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Quitting toolkit
Quitting toolkit
Quitting tobacco and related products is hard, but with the right support and tools, you can do it! With professional support and quitting services, tobacco users double their chances of quitting successfully. You are losing a lot more than you think by using tobacco – your health, the health of your family and loved ones, the money you are spending, your looks, and so much more. Quitters are truly winners. Get tips from the Quitting Toolkit and start your journey today!
More than 100 reasons to quit
Tobacco causes 8 million deaths every year. Smokers are more likely to develop severe disease with COVID-19 compared to non-smokers. Quitting can be challenging, but there are a lot of reasons to quit. The benefits of quitting tobacco are almost immediate.
Quick tips to curb your cravings
Delay. Delay as long as you can before giving in to your urge.
Deep breathing. Take 10 deep breaths to relax yourself from within until the urge passes.
Drink water. Drinking water is a healthy alternative to sticking a cigarette in your mouth.
Do something else to distract yourself. Take a shower, read, go for a walk, listen to music!
Brief tobacco cessation advice
Tobacco users have an 84% increased chance of quitting successfully when they receive intensive advice from a physician. Access the online training for primary care providers to deliver brief tobacco cessation interventions.
Toll-free quitlines
Toll-free quitlines are available in many countries across the world, where callers can receive advice from trained cessation specialists (quitline counsellors).
Text message support
The WHO Quit Challenge is now available on WhatsApp and Facebook to give the best advice on how to quit tobacco during this difficult time. Join people across the world in the 14-day Quit Challenge to break free from tobacco use in any form.
Mobile applications
Quit Genius
Conquer addictions in your workplace. Tackle nicotine, alcohol and opioid addictions with one dynamic programme. Quit Genius is the world’s first technology-enabled digital clinic for multiple addictions.
QuitNow!
Quitting smoking made easy with the QuitNow! community. Quitting smoking is easier accompanied by people that share your experiences. With every achievement you conquer, quitting smoking is closer. Feel proud of your achievement and share it with your friends.
Florence, WHO’s digital health worker
Meet Florence, WHO’s digital health worker to help you quit tobacco. After a short conversation via video or text, Florence can help you build your confidence to quit smoking, make a plan, and recommend toll-free quitlines or apps.
Allen Carr's Easyway
For this year-long global campaign for World No Tobacco Day 2021, Allen Carr’s Easyway is offering, via WHO, free quit support to 9500 frontline workers and tobacco users in 14 countries across the 6 regions through Live Online Group Seminars and Online Video Programmes. The clinically proven method focuses on addressing the psychological part of tobacco dependence without the requirement for any nicotine replacement therapy.
Medications
For individuals with high levels of nicotine dependence, WHO also recommends the use of proven tobacco cessation medications including nicotine gum, skin patch, oral tablet/lozenge, oral inhaler and nasal spray, non-nicotine therapies include medications like Bupropion and Varenicline. Nicotine replacement therapy is a proven treatment to help you quit smoking. Through nicotine replacement therapy, you get small and steady doses of nicotine in order to be able to better fight off nicotine withdrawal symptoms and make your quitting journey much easier! Find out from your doctor or local health authority where you can access specialized tobacco dependence treatment services and medications..
Campaign materials
#CommitToQuit
On 8 December 2020, WHO launched a year-long global campaign for World No Tobacco Day 2021 – “Commit to Quit." The new WHO Quit Challenge on WhatsApp and publication “More than 100 reasons to quit tobacco" were released on this day to mark the start of the campaign.
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to millions of tobacco users saying they want to quit. The campaign will support at least 100 million people as they try to give up tobacco through communities of quitters. “Commit to Quit” will help create healthier environments that are conducive to quitting tobacco by: advocating for strong tobacco cessation policies; increasing access to cessation services; raising awareness of tobacco industry tactics, and empowering tobacco users to make successful quit attempts through “quit & win” initiatives.
WHO, together with partners, are creating and building-up digital communities where people can find the social support they need to quit. Quitting tobacco is challenging, especially with the added social and economic stresses that have come as a result of the pandemic. Worldwide around 780 million people say they want to quit, but only 30% of them have access to the tools that can help them do so.
Together with partners, WHO is providing people with the tools and resources they need to make a successful quit attempt.
Statement by WHO Regional Director Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari
Social cards
Animated GIFs (Regional)
Animated GIFs (Global)
Regional videos
Global videos
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Events
What can health insurances do for tobacco cessation?
10 March 2021 | Learn about the key role health insurances play in tobacco cessation and how health professionals can become more engaged.
Benefits of quitting
