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Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: Slide Presentation (Full Set)

For the Patient Willing To Quit (Continued)

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Action

Strategies for implementation

In a clear, strong, and personalized manner, urge every tobacco user to quit.

Advice should be:

Clear—"It is important that you quit smoking (or using chewing tobacco) now and I can help you." "Cutting down while you are ill is not enough." "Occasional or light smoking is still dangerous."
Strong—"As your clinician, I need you to know that quitting smoking is the most important thing you can do to protect your health now and in the future. The clinic staff and I will help you."
Personalized—Tie tobacco use to current symptoms and health concerns, and/or its social and economic costs, and/or the impact of tobacco use on children and others in the household. "Continuing to smoke makes your asthma worse and quitting may dramatically improve your health." "Quitting smoking may reduce the number of ear infections your child has."