9 Web Sites That Will Help You—Finally—Kick the Habit

There’s a wealth of antismoking information on the Internet. That’s the good news. The not-so-good news is that some of it is a gorefest of shocking medical images aimed at scaring you into kicking the habit. Chances are, you already know smoking is really, really bad for your health. Here are some Web sites that know what the struggle is all about. They offer real resources, support, and motivation to help you kick the habit for good.

Site	Who It's For	Why We Like It
Become an Ex	Smokers who want a free, customized plan to quit.	This site from the National Alliance on Smoking Cessation provides a free, three-step plan to quit. The plan offers practical advice on how to recognize your triggers, practice daily habits without cigarettes even before you quit smoking, and find support, either among your peers or online. Sign up to get your own member profile page and join this active online community with more than 5,000 members.
YouTube	Here's a video for those who could use a bit of visualizing motivation but want to avoid the many antismoking videos on YouTube that depict oral cancers, oozing brains, and other shocking images meant to gross you out.	This is video of tar being extracted from cigarettes. It’s vivid and makes the point——without being gory. If you feel you need scarier images to help motivate you, just check out the dozens of other antismoking videos that can be found on YouTube.
Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights	People who don't like secondhand smoke in restaurants and bars——even if they smoke themselves.	If you're struggling to kick the habit or have managed to do it, you know how tempting secondhand smoke can be. This group says it's been advocating for smoke-free air since 1976. Although it may feel like you're joining the enemy, this group participates in a lot of activities you might support——such as lobbying to protect young people from tobacco addiction.
Smokefree.gov	Those who want to enroll in a clinical trial, or talk or IM with a counselor.	Want to quit smoking by enrolling in a clinical trial? This National Cancer Institute site can hook you up. You can also talk with a counselor either on the phone (English or Spanish) or via instant messaging (English only). If you’re in the military, you can access a tobacco cessation program sponsored by the Department of Defense, QuitTobacco. Make Everyone Proud.
American Cancer Society	Those who could use some hour-by-hour motivation to steer clear of the cigarette pack.	This is the American Cancer Society’s guide to quitting, and this well-respected and authoritative group knows its business. This site has helpful statistics that detail the health benefits 20 minutes (heart rate and blood pressure drop), 12 hours (carbon monoxide levels fall to normal), and 2 weeks (lung function improves) after kicking the habit.
U.S. Surgeon General	Both smokers trying to quit and doctors trying to help their patients quit.	This United States Department of Health and Human Services site is from the office of the U.S. Surgeon General. It includes how-to-quit information for patients as well as suggestions for how doctors can help their patients kick the habit.
Weight Control Information Network	People who are worried about gaining weight when they quit smoking.	This site from the National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases offers information for smokers concerned about gaining weight when they quit, as well as links to a number of other reputable sites.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention	Those interested in the history of tobacco research, as well as detailed statistics on smoking.	This site has Surgeon General's reports going back to the 1960s. And it lays out the risks of smoking, in both English and Spanish, to people of all ages——from infants to senior citizens. Want to know the number of U.S. adults who chewed tobacco or smoked cigars in recent decades? This site is stuffed with statistics and facts.
Legacy Tobacco Documents Library	Smokers who want to get really, really mad at the tobacco industry.	This site from the University of California, San Francisco, offers the paper trail on sneaky attempts by the tobacco industry to recruit more people into the smoking fold. These documents, some used in tobacco industry lawsuits, stretch back for decades. One example: Internal memos from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s from the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company as it planned the Joe Camel advertising campaign.