these concrete tools that can really help you quit smoking

Nearly 6 out of 10 smokers want to quit smoking: but moving from intention to action is often more complicated. You still need to be accompanied. It is with this in mind that the Ministry of Health, in partnership with Health Insurance, launched the “no tobacco month” challenge in November. The objective: to encourage smokers to quit cigarettes in a collective effort, benefiting from the support of those around them. For this ninth edition, new tools are offered to all those who aim to abstain from tobacco. Ready to take on the challenge, but wondering how to participate? Le Figaro offers you a guided tour.

Register via a dedicated site

Perhaps you already have the Doctolib application, a partner of this initiative. From then on, you just have to open it. A message will invite you to register for Tobacco-Free Month. Click on “I register”. You will then be redirected to the dedicated tobacco-free month site, a variation of the Tobacco info service site, designed by Public Health France.

Of course, you can also go directly to the site.

As of November 4, more than 117,500 people have already registered for the challenge. Registering on the site allows you to obtain a consultation with a smoking cessation professional (70% greater chance of successfully quitting); to order a free stopping aid kit; to benefit from online support so as not to break down; to have the possibility of sharing with an entire community your doubts but also your tips.

By registering, three support packages will be offered to you: a “big helping hand” (advice by email once a day); a “little helping hand” (advice by email three times a week); or “I quit alone”, meaning total autonomy (no accompanying emails but access to all Tabac info service tools).

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You can then order your cessation aid kit with a 40-day program. This kit offers challenges and advice, as well as a wheel to calculate your savings made by quitting cigarettes. The kit is delivered by post.

On the site, you can consult a wide variety of content, for personalized support according to your needs and your relationship to tobacco, via different filters (sport, well-being, health, games, cooking, etc.). For example, there is advice on how to avoid cravings, or breathing exercises to get rid of the urge to smoke, etc.

An application to be guided

Once registered, you are also invited to download the Tabac info service application, with, again, personalized support, depending on your smoking profile (number of cigarettes smoked during the day, level of addiction, etc.) , with the strategy that will suit you (stopping altogether by immediately choosing a weaning date, or gradually stopping) and advice also adapted according to your gender.

By choosing “gradual cessation”, you can, if you wish, choose a maximum number of cigarettes to smoke per day for the next 7 days.

A “stopping aids” section allows you to explore whether or not you should use nicotine substitutes by discovering which ones are best suited to your profile; or find a tobacco specialist near you.

Finally, a “library” section offers various articles or video posts answering the questions “Why stop” (to concentrate, have better breath, protect loved ones, preserve your health or even the environment, for example), then “How to stop” (prepare yourself, inform your loved ones, manage your nervousness, change your habits, etc.). Testimonials from other people who have stopped smoking allow you to find and/or maintain motivation. Finally, a “monitoring” section allows you to follow your progress via a calendar.

3989, a dedicated number

For less virtual support, it is also possible to use a dedicated telephone line via 3989, in order to benefit from personalized follow-up, free of charge. An advisor will answer initial questions and then be able to put you in touch, secondly, with a tobacco specialist. If it suits you, you can set up a strategy with him and continue to be supported by this same health professional, via regular telephone appointments.

The line is available Monday to Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Today, 87% of 3989 users say that this monitoring helped them quit smoking.

Join regional support groups

There's nothing like knowing that you're not alone when facing such a challenge to keep you motivated. Via the Tobacco Free Month website, you can also find links to the Tobacco Free Month Facebook and Instagram pages, as well as regional Facebook groups participating in the challenge, to exchange with other people who are trying to quit smoking. There we find the Normans, the Occitans, the Bretons, the Ile-de-France residents… and many others.

Now it's your turn!