Smoking is a dangerous addiction, with smoking causing about 90 percent of all lung cancer deaths in men, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What's more, if you're dating a smoker, you're breathing in secondhand smoke, which causes 46,000 premature deaths from heart disease among nonsmokers. If your boyfriend is having a hard time giving up his smoking, your level head and steady stream of encouragement can go a long way toward the effort. Be patient and supportive to help him kick the habit.
Step 1
Quit together if you are also a smoker, suggests Helpguide.org. Quitting together to show your commitment to health and a long life together may give him the strength that he needs to stop smoking. If you're not a smoker, help him find support through another smoker who is trying to quit. Someone who is enduring the same cravings and withdrawal symptoms can be a good resource person.
Step 2
Offer alternatives to your boyfriend's usual smoking triggers. For instance, if your boyfriend likes to smoke with his morning cup of coffee, try offering freshly squeezed orange juice instead, so he isn't tempted. Bucknell University suggests replacing activities with which he likes to smoke with those during which smoking would be difficult. Take a hike, or spend a night at a museum gallery opening where smoking isn't permitted.
Step 3
Allow your boyfriend to contact you any time, day or night, when he feels the need to smoke. Program your phone number into his cell phone under something that he'll remember, such as "Don't smoke" or "call first." Insist that before he lights a cigarette he gives you a call first. It will help to make him accountable, and it'll give you a chance to talk him out of it.
Step 4
Encourage your boyfriend by offering small gifts or rewards as he meets small goals, like going a day or week without a cigarette. Small rewards for small victories can help your boyfriend continue on the path of quitting. A small token of your appreciation for his heart work is appropriate. Try offering a massage, a couple of tickets to the ballgame or his choice of movie.
Step 5
Show understanding for your boyfriend's situation without being judgmental. Your boyfriend may not succeed on the first try of quitting, the Mayo Clinic says. Give him time to learn his limits. If he falls off the wagon, show understanding and compassion as you help him get back on track.
