Prior to offering to help someone quit smoking, you should realize the harmfulness of cigarette smoking. Nicotine, carbon monoxide, tar, ammonia, arsenic, formaldehyde, DDT and hydrogen cyanide are some of many dangerous chemicals found in cigarette smoking. Nicotine is an addictive substance. Many of these dangerous chemicals stay in the lungs for long time, some for months and years.

Nicotine when inhaled into the lungs affects the smokers brain in less than 6 seconds. When consumed in small doses, nicotine functions as a brain stimulator, however a large dose can simulate a depressant and even larger doses may be fatal, affecting lungs, blood vessels, and hormonal production as well. The more someone smokes, the better he feels, and the greater the damages are caused to health.

Offer Encouragement

As a caring person, you obviously want to help people quit smoking, especially if the person is your loved one. In fact, when a smoker decides to quit smoking, his friends and family members can offer the best help to quit smoking by giving him good moral support. Even when an individual is not totally ready to quit smoking, it is his loved ones who can motivate him to do so. If you are serious about helping your friend to quit his smoking habits, the first step you can take is to offer him your empathy and treat him with respect. You should always remember that each smoker trying to quit will be behave differently and will need individual attention and motivation.

First of all, discuss the issue of why he should quit with the individual you want to help to quit smoking. It will show you care about him. You must encourage him to maintain a positive attitude. It doesn't matter how many times he failed before assure him that this time will be successful for him. The first few days after quitting are the toughest. He may require extra support when trigger situations occur, such as coffee breaks or immediately after meals. Be there to talk and offer support. Some people become insanely mean during withdrawals, so remember not to take anything too personally. This too shall pass!

While offering your help to quit smoking, it may not be possible to be around the person, but at least call daily to ask about him. While talking inquire about his feelings and how he is spending time, etc. instead of just focusing on the non-smoking. Some of us become naggers, scolders or preachers and these methods never work. Instead, you should make him appreciate how much you respect him for his attempt to quit. You should help him understand that you care about him independently of his smoking habit.

Congratulate And Rewards

When you offer your help someone to quit smoking, you should prepare to celebrate his attempt to quit smoking. You should offer lots of praise and rewards to celebrate the milestones. The rewards can be simple, perhaps, a card or a flower. This encourages the person who is trying hard to quit his smoking habit. For the one month anniversary, you could take him to dinner, movie, or any event to prove how proud you are of them.