Family & Friends
Play a supporting role.
Your role isn't to convince your friends and family to quit, it's to support them once they've made the decision to quit.
Help Your Loved Ones
Help Your Loved Ones
People trying to break free of nicotine addiction need non-judgmental support. Follow the tips below to provide support and encouragement that lets your loved ones know that they are not on their quit journey alone.
1. Be patient.
Quitting nicotine makes people feel grouchy and irritable because the body is addicted to the nicotine it is no longer getting. One of the best things you can do is to be a little bit kinder and more patient while they're dealing with nicotine withdrawal.
2. Be understanding and supportive if they slip up.
Almost everyone slips up when they're trying to quit. It's not a failure or a sign of weakness. On average, it can take 8 tries or more before someone quits nicotine successfully.
3. Encourage them to seek help.
Research shows that people who use tobacco products are more likely to quit successfully if they access free cessation counseling.
4. Provide a tobacco-free environment for them.
Removing temptation is key to avoiding slips. People trying to quit who see or smell other people using tobacco products are likely to experience cravings that are hard to overcome. By providing a tobacco-free environment where no one is smoking, dipping, or vaping, you help remove that temptation.
5. Understand their reasons for quitting.
Motivation is key to quitting. The person you want to support might be having difficulty sticking to their decision because nicotine is extremely addictive. If they start to waver in their commitment, point them back to their reasons for wanting to stop.
6. Plan for their triggers.
People trying to quit will experience triggers. These can be different for different people, but drinking alcohol, feeling full after a meal, and stress are common situations that create triggers. Try to find ways to spend time together that avoid these things. Encourage people feeling stressed to find healthy coping strategies that don't involve tobacco use.
7. Be aware of industry marketing
People who are trying to quit are likely to experience cravings when they see people on TV or in movies using tobacco products. They are also more likely to slip if they see advertisements and discounts at the gas station or other retail locations. And don't forget that if they are signed up for rewards programs or for email marketing, they will continue to receive promotions and discounts for their favorite product. Remember that keeping the mindset to quit can be very difficult when you are bombarded by tobacco advertising and promotions.
8. Celebrate their successes
Breaking a habit is hard work, and it deserves recognition. Find milestones to celebrate together.
Help Your Kids
Parents & Guardians
It's easy to tell if your child has been smoking, but how do you know if they are vaping or using smokeless products like dip, chew, or Zyn? It's important to educate yourself about the variety of nicotine products available and have open, honest conversations with your child. You may know cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and chewing tobacco. Other products — such as cigarillos, e-cigarettes/vapes, snus, or tobacco pouches, tobacco strips, dissolvables, bidis, kreteks or clove cigarettes, and hookah or water pipes — may not be as familiar to you.
If your teen is vaping, find tools to help with the parent version of Live Vape Free from the SC Tobacco Quitline. Live Vape Free for teens provides quit support, while Live Vape Free for parents is designed to help you help your teen quit vaping.
Learn more so you can give better support.
Talk to Your Child About Vaping
The American Lung Association's Talk About Vaping site is designed for parents trying to figure out how to talk about vaping with their kids.
CDC What Parents Need to Know About Vaping
Vapes & e-cigarettes do not create harmless “water vapor” — they create an aerosol that can contain harmful chemicals.
Truth Initiative’s Vaping Has Real Risks
DPH Risks of Vaping
The long-term health effects of vaping are unknown, but we do know that youth e-cigarette and vape use has been declared an epidemic by the US Surgeon General.
Find information at Vaping | South Carolina Department of Public Health.
CDC Health Effects of Vaping
Smokefree SC
Smokefree SC's vision is to eliminate premature death, disease, and other harms caused by tobacco products.
Hold Out The Lifeline
Four in 10 adults in South Carolina are deprived of the right to breathe clean air in public places. Hold Out The Lifeline wants to help change that.
CDC Tobacco Health Equity
People with behavioral health conditions find it more difficult to quit nicotine.
Read more from the CDC about what this means and how it impacts you.
Center for Black Health & Equity
Learn how menthol impact the health of Black communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quitlines are tobacco treatment support programs available in all 50 states and U.S. territories. Most quitlines are reached by calling the national toll-free number 1-800-QUIT-NOW or by texting 'READY' to 34191 (depending on the state or territory). Quitlines offer personalized quit coaching calls, online support, and text support. Most quitlines offer FDA-approved non-prescription quit medications. Get more information about quitlines or find a map of state quitlines.
When you call the SC Tobacco Quitline, you will speak directly to a coach who will register you for services and answer any questions.
Yes, most likely. The SC Tobacco Quitline offers FDA-approved non-prescription quit medications, including the nicotine patch, gum, or lozenge. We also offer combination therapy to improve quit success.
People who are under the age of 18, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and people with some medical issues will be referred to their doctor for the use of FDA-approved quit medications.
No, insurance isn't required for enrollment in the SC Tobacco Quitline. If your health insurance plan provides additional quit benefits, you may be referred to your health insurance provider. Follow up with your coach if you have more questions.
The SC Tobacco Quitline is open year-round: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We are closed on:
- Independence Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- ½ day Christmas Eve
- Christmas Day
- ½ day New Year’s Eve
- Late open on New Year’s Day (to help people with their resolution to live tobacco-free).
Our coaches are highly trained specialists who are passionate about supporting you on your journey to quit. Many of our coaches are successful quitters themselves who have counseling and behavioral health backgrounds. We never judge; we are here to help.
Quitting nicotine can be isolating, and physical withdrawals are very real. Take friends and family members who quit seriously and be there to support them through the ups and downs, for as long as it takes, even if their journey isn't perfect. Just remember that what they need most from you is support, not nagging.
No. SC Tobacco Quitline services in South Carolina are completely free.