|
 When you smoke, you can start preparing yourself for quitting successfully before you actually quit. Each time you reach for a tobacco or nicotine product, think about the specific trigger that led you to use it:
- Stress
- Finishing a meal
- Drinking coffee
- A craving
Then, brainstorm what you could replace the cigarette or nicotine product with or how to change this strong habit — one you have reinforced thousands of times. Here are some ideas that have worked for others, but consider what would work best in your life:
-
Stress: Take deep breaths, jump or dance around for a few seconds, relax your shoulders, call someone, or listen to music. Practicing these stress management techniques before you quit can help form new associations and habits.
-
Finishing a meal: Immediately brush your teeth, chew gum, or suck on hard candy to introduce a different taste that you don’t associate with smoking. You might also use a fidget toy to keep your hands occupied instead of reaching for a cigarette.
-
Drinking coffee: Change your routine by drinking coffee in a place where you don’t usually smoke or switching to iced coffee or a different flavor. You could also delay smoking until after you finish your coffee to start changing the strong associations reinforced by nicotine’s dopamine reward pathway, which delivers a feeling of pleasure within 10 seconds.
-
Feeling a craving: Practice waiting five minutes before smoking to prove to yourself that the craving fades. After five minutes, you can decide whether to smoke or not.
Planning to quit is important because once you do, you will encounter many daily triggers. Since nicotine withdrawal can make problem-solving more difficult, having a plan in place will help you manage these moments successfully.
|
|
Giovanna “Gio” Castro, MPH, is the newest health educator for the Weld County Tobacco Education and Prevention Program, having started in January 2025. She is committed to empowering people in her community through education, resource navigation, and youth advocacy in spaces where access to care is complicated — but not impossible — to navigate.
Gio has an extensive personal and professional background in health care, including direct patient care and social service settings, where she developed a passion for public health and prevention. She believes every person, regardless of their background, deserves equitable opportunities to achieve a healthy, successful life.
In her free time, Gio enjoys studying pop culture and music, spending time with her partner and family, and relaxing with her three furry, four-legged “kids.”
|
The Weld County Tobacco Education and Prevention Program is sponsoring trainings for anyone who wants to have more effective conversations about quitting tobacco or nicotine use or who wants to lead quit smoking/vaping groups. The Program will pay for your training and (if you are not a Weld County employee) provide you with a $200 gift card for completing the training.
Training opportunities:
NOT-On-Tobacco
- This self-paced, virtual American Lung Association training is for youth-serving school employees and anyone else who works with people aged 13 to 19.
- Learn how to facilitate 10 group sessions to encourage voluntary change in tobacco, e-cig, or nicotine pouch use.
- Become certified in NOT and learn about the INDEPTH program, an alternative to school suspension.
Freedom From Smoking
- Become a certified facilitator in the American Lung Association’s curriculum for adults.
- The training is virtual and primarily self-paced.
- Learn how to facilitate a series of eight groups about effective strategies for quitting tobacco or e-cigs, and how to support people through the first weeks after quitting.
Email choover@weld.gov for more information about training opportunities.
The tobacco industry spends about $1 million per hour marketing tobacco products in the U.S. In 2022, tobacco manufacturers spent nearly $8.6 billion on marketing in the U.S. alone (CDC, 2024)
|
Brain development is not complete until the mid-to-late twenties, according to the National Institute of Heath (NIH, 2023). The tobacco industry knows this and specifically target their marketing towards youth and young adults with the goal of getting you hooked on nicotine before you’re even able to rent a car!
The Weld County Tobacco Education and Prevention Program would like to learn about the challenges of discussing tobacco and nicotine use and cessation in various types of healthcare settings throughout Weld County. If you work in healthcare as a PA, LPN, RN, MD, or MA, please consider spending an hour speaking with us virtually and help shape future tobacco support for healthcare settings. You will receive a $200 gift card for your time (unless you are a Weld County employee).
Space is limited; to learn more call Heather at 970-400-2423 or email hmortenson@weld.gov.
|
Denver has banned the sale of all flavored tobacco and nicotine products. This flavor ban includes e-cigarette juice, nicotine pouches, and menthol cigarettes.
Menthol cigarettes are often considered a "starter cigarette" because menthol acts as a mild anesthetic, reducing the burning sensation of inhaled smoke and masking the bitter taste. The goal of the ban is to reduce the number of youth who become addicted to nicotine.
Currently, Denver Health is focused on educating retailers and has not yet begun enforcement.
|
|
Free, confidential, and self-guided service for teens (12-17) trying to quit smoking or vaping. To get started, text "Start My Quit" to 36072, or call 1-855-891-9989 for individualized support, encouragement, and helpful tips. No parental consent required. |
|
Free and online quit service for Colorado residents aged 18 or older. Contact 1-800-QUIT-NOW for assistance and see if you are eligible for a free supply of patches, gum, or lozenges. |
|
The BABY & ME – Tobacco Free Program™ is an evidence based, smoking cessation program created to reduce the burden of tobacco on the pregnant and postpartum population. Click here to learn more or submit a referral. |
|
|
|
|
