The Basics
This substance in cigarettes is responsible for addiction.
What is nicotine?
True or False: Quitting smoking during substance use treatment increases relapse risk.
What is False?
Smoking damages this organ that already works hard to process alcohol and many medications.
What is the liver?
Myth or Fact: Nicotine causes cancer.
Myth – it’s addictive but not the main cause of cancer.
This emotion is a common trigger for smoking.
What is stress?
Nicotine reaches the brain in approximately this many seconds after inhalation.
What is 7–10 seconds?
Smoking cessation during recovery has been shown to improve this outcome.
What is long-term sobriety rates?
Smoking increases risk of this breathing condition that causes chronic cough and shortness of breath.
What is COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)?
Myth or Fact: Smoking helps manage stress long-term.
Myth: Smoking may temporarily relieve withdrawal-related stress but increases baseline anxiety over time.
Smoking after meals or with coffee is an example of this type of trigger.
What is a routine or habit trigger?
This neurotransmitter increases when someone smokes, contributing to reinforcement and addiction.
What is dopamine?
Name one long-term benefit of quitting smoking that supports sobriety.
What is better health / more energy / improved mood / financial savings / increased self-control?
How does smoking increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes?
It damages blood vessels, increases clotting, and raises blood pressure.
Myth or Fact: You can get addicted after just a few cigarettes.
Fact
What does HALT stand for?
Hungry, Angry, Lonely and Tired. Consider these emotions before picking up a pack.
This is the most preventable cause of death in the United States.
What is cigarette smoking?
This term describes environmental cues (like certain people or places) that increase smoking urges.
What are triggers?
Smoking slows healing and increases risk of this problem after surgery or injury.
What is infection or delayed wound healing?
Myth or Fact: Secondhand smoke isn’t dangerous.
Myth
Drinking water, chewing gum, or sucking on hard candy are examples of this coping strategy.
What is oral substitution?
True or False: There are only long-term health benefits to quitting smoking.
False there are both immediate and long-term benefits.
This coping skill helps manage both nicotine cravings and substance cravings by tolerating discomfort without reacting.
What is distress tolerance?
Smoking reduces oxygen in the blood by increasing this harmful substance.
What is carbon monoxide?
Myth or Fact: Most people attempt quitting multiple times before success.
Fact - Most individuals attempt quitting multiple times before long-term success. Relapse is part of the learning process.
Taking 10 slow, deep breaths during a craving helps regulate this system in the body.
What is the nervous system?