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Anonymous
Anonymous asked in Social SciencePsychology · 1 decade ago

My 25 yr old son smokes cigarrettes. What can I do to help him quit?

I smoked for over 30 years and quit 17 yrs. ago. I quit cold turkey and beer at the same time. No one was able to get through to me and I did it with shear willpower. This may work for my son before he aquires serious health issues but I would like to help him facilitate a smoking cessation process without "bossing" and prostelitizing him which may lead to further alienation. Any suggestions?

13 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    As you yourself found out, the best way to quit is through willpower - the person has to REALLy want to quit, for their own reasons.

    Do you know if he wants to quit? If he says he will one day, maybe you could let him know that when that day comes, you'll be there to help him however you are able.

    Other than that, he's unlikely to quit until he wants to, and you're right, if you hassle him about quitting - it's not going to make him quit.

  • 1 decade ago

    You can't do anything about it. You should already know this.

    I used nicotine gum as an alternative to smoking and have quit smoking and the gum. It was hard and I still have my moments but at least I'm not smoking.

    I'd suggest taking away the opportunity so smoke. Make sure everything everyone does with him in the family is totally non-smoking. This will likely make him feel like the odd man out for a while but it will plant the seed that it's not socially acceptable anymore to smoke.

  • Anonymous
    5 years ago

    Do you know anybody with an oxygen tank permanently attached to their lungs? If you do, would such a person be willing to talk to your son? There is nothing like a good dose of reality. By the way, whether he enjoys it or not doesn't matter. Even if he doesn't, its still highly addictive and has serious negative consequences both short and long-term. It shouldn't be difficult to find a list of those online somewhere. Maybe if he reads the risks, he'll think twice about it too.

  • 1 decade ago

    The best you can do is educate him on the concequenses of smoking. In the end though, he is the only one with any power to get him to quit. If yu go into it thinking you ca get him to quit you will only strain the relationship.

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  • 1 decade ago

    By now he's too old. Like you found your way out of smoking he'll have to find his.

    Keep Smilin'

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    tie ur son up ,get a group of hardcore criminals 2 smoke non stop in front of him for 30 days , exhaling smoke n their bad breath in front of ur son's face with every puff, non stop for 30 days, make him vomit n vomit n vomit n vomit n vomit , for 30 days , he will feel so disgusted , it will change his thinking

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    first ask if he would like to quit if he says no leave it alone if he say yes then you have lots of choices but cold turkey works the best.

  • 1 decade ago

    there are lots of ways you can get him patches take him to a hipnotist have wellbutrin prescribed to him, but nothing will work unless he wants to quit.

  • 1 decade ago

    he isnt going to quit until HE wants to quit. nothing you say will get him to stop as im sure he knows the health risks.

  • 1 decade ago

    an addict must quit on their own... although there is an on line version of AA for smokers

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