San Diego, California—With summer here, there’s now more time to enjoy the outdoors and have a fresh restart for those who have neglected their resolutions from the beginning of the year. The weather’s getting warmer, school’s out, and people have another chance to renew their commitment to live a smoke-free life.
Here are some tips on how to enjoy this summer by taking steps to quit smoking:
- Make a list of all the reasons why you want to quit smoking. Knowing why you want to quit will help you stay motivated and keep your eyes on the goal. Imagine a life without being dependent on cigarettes. Your list could include health reasons, concerns about your physical appearance, or even wanting to be less isolated from family and friends who want you to quit. Review your list daily to serve as a reminder.
- Walk in the park. Enjoy the outdoors and fresh air by taking a walk in the park, or hiking in the mountains. Most parks don’t allow smoking, which will help you resist the urge to smoke, and you’ll be getting great exercise.
- Spend time with your supporters. Every person trying to quit smoking needs support from friends and or family. Spending time with non-smokers can help you in your efforts to quit for good.
- Call the Asian Smokers’ Quitline (ASQ): Mandarin & Cantonese 1-800-838-8917 Korean 1-800-556-5564 or Vietnamese 1-800-778-8440: Another way to find support is by calling the Asian Smokers’ Quitline (ASQ), a free nationwide telephone assistance for those who want to quit smoking. Besides providing service in either Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean, and Vietnamese, ASQ also offers other service lines to help smokers who speak different languages to quit smoking.
- When you’re on vacation, try avoiding triggers. Plan and engage in smoke-free activities. Book a smoke-free room, or use a rental car. Start new traditions. Pass on the alcohol or other triggers that tempt you to reach for a cigarette.
“Remember, keep trying and every quit attempt counts!” said Cherrie Ng, a project manager of ASQ.
About ASQ
ASQ is operated by the Asian Smokers’ Quitline (ASQ). ASQ provides FREE evidence-based smoking cessation services in Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean and Vietnamese to Asian communities in the U.S. Studies have shown that smokers who enroll in ASQ services double their chances of quitting successfully.
We encourage all Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese speaking smokers to call ASQ if they want free help quitting smoking. Friends and family of smokers may also enroll to learn how to help smokers quit. Cessation advisors who speak Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese are ready to offer useful information. Smokers can receive a free two-week supply of nicotine patches while supplies last.
We encourage health care providers and community leaders to refer Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese speaking smokers by visiting our website and selecting “Web Referral”. ASQ Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese will provide cessation advice and free patches at no cost to your patients.
Visit www.asq-shop.org to order free promotional materials and fact sheets about smoking. Shipping is free.
Over 10,000 Asian language speakers from all 50 states have enrolled in ASQ services since 2012. ASQ is funded by the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
ASQ is open Monday through Friday, 7am to 9pm Pacific Time (10am – Midnight Eastern Time).
To enroll, call or register online today!
- Mandarin & Cantonese 1-800-838-8917 asq-chinese.org
- Korean 1-800-556-5564 asq-korean.org
- Vietnamese 1-800-778-8440 asq-viet.org
To learn more about ASQ in English, visit: www.asiansmokersquitline.org.
