If you have a friend who smokes, you're probably concerned about his health and well-being. You already know that smoking causes lung cancer and heart disease, and you'd hate for your friend to get sick. Maybe smoking already affects him in other ways; for example, he spends a lot of money on cigarettes even if he's constantly short on cash. You probably have also found that lecturing him or nagging him won't help. Unfortunately, you can't make your friend quit smoking; the decision to quit must ultimately be his. However, there are a few things you can do to encourage him and help him quit.
Step 1
Sit down with your friend and have an honest, heart-to-heart talk. Tell her that you've been reading information from the American Lung Association and you're worried about how smoking will affect her health both now and later on in life. Gently let her know that you're concerned and ask her if she plans to quit smoking. Let her know that you care about her and that you would do whatever you can to support her when she quits.
Step 2
Encourage your friend to make a plan to quit smoking. You can do this in a gentle, non-critical way so that it doesn't come across like you're giving him a lecture. According to the Canadian Lung Association, smokers need support when they decide to quit. Criticism might only make him more determined not to quit. Once he's decided to quit, you can provide him with information from the American Lung Association that will help him quit. You can even encourage him to talk to his doctor about nicotine replacement therapy, which can ease his mind about dealing with withdrawal symptoms and increase his chances of successfully quitting.
Step 3
Ask your friend to call you or another friend or family member if she feels like smoking. Once she quits, it's going to be very difficult for her to resist the nicotine cravings. According to Help Guide, it's important for smokers to have social support when they quit. Just knowing that she can call you can provide her with encouragement and motivation when she quits.
Step 4
Provide distractions from smoking. Take your friend out for a walk, start exercising together or do something else you both find enjoyable. According to the Canadian Lung Association, having a distraction from smoking increases the likelihood that your friend will be able to quit successfully.
Step 5
Accept his decision if he decides not to quit right now. He already knows that smoking is bad for him and he probably really does want to quit. However, he might not be ready right now. Don't force your ideas on him. Instead, re-visit the topic at another point in the future. You may have helped him already by planting the idea in his head.
