Sophia Khatsenkova 6:51 p.m., September 6, 2021

In France, one in four smokes daily.

Smoking causes 75,000 annual deaths in the country.

But quitting smoking can be very hard for some.

Nathalie Latour, general delegate at Fédération Addiction, delivers on Europe 1 her advice to quit smoking for good.

INTERVIEW

Taking the big step and quitting smoking is never easy.

How do you go about not relapsing afterwards?

Nathalie Latour, general delegate of Federation Addiction, was the guest of Europe 1, Monday morning, to discuss this very delicate question.

The manager first recalls that smoking is a real disease because "the person loses control of this aspect of their life and it is a repetitive element".

She advises all smokers to be accompanied and especially to find their own method and reasons to definitely quit smoking.

She mentions several avenues to follow to get on the right path.  

Find your good reasons 

"What is important is that everyone finds their own good reasons to quit smoking," insists Nathalie Latour. Among the good reasons, she lists a long list: having better skin quality, better breathing for playing sports, or no longer smelling of tobacco. The specialist recalls that it is possible to recover a large part of his respiratory capacities only a few days after the last cigarette. Taste and smell also quickly return.

One year after quitting smoking, the risk of a stroke is equivalent to a person who has never smoked.

And then the risk of a heart attack is halved.

After ten years, the risk of oral and lung cancer has greatly decreased and life expectancy is getting closer to people who have never smoked.

"So it's still worth it. There are the short-term, medium-term and long-term effects," she explains. 

Set a date

Nathalie Latour advises to set a deadline, for example no longer smoking in November, which also corresponds to the Month Without Tobacco.

"It is true that the fact of being also in connection with a campaign makes it possible to keep its motivations and to show that one is not alone in this company."

Quitting smoking for a whole month would increase the chances of quitting for good by five, according to the expert. 

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Shout it from the rooftops? 

For some people, Nathalie Latour says that announcing that they want to quit smoking to everyone around them can also be a motivation.

"It's good because others realize that it is possible. And that's how we create groups and we motivate ourselves. It is a little more difficult to let go when we are committed. with lots of people, ”she insists. 

Usually it takes several attempts to actually quit - five on average.

"Above all, you shouldn't be demoralized. The more you try, the more likely you are to get there," suggests Nathalie Latour. 

What if her partner continues to smoke?

What if you have decided to quit but your partner continues to smoke?

First, Nathalie Latour still insists on the fact that quitting smoking is a very personal decision and that you have to respect the choice of the other.

"It can be a motivation for two. That is, if the conditions are right for both, it is something that can indeed be extremely helpful to do it together. But if the other is not not ready, you have to accept it. You have to start your challenge on your own, "she explains. 

Can we stop gradually? 

Is it possible to quit for good by reducing the number of cigarettes every day?

For Nathalie Latour, everyone must find their motivations and the approach that best suits them.

"We will have benefits to reduce on the issue of breathing, a number of things and it puts in a virtuous circle to say 'I am able to decrease'."

But in the long term, Nathalie Latour advises to aim for zero tobacco, because "it is always better to reduce, but on a medium, long-term impact, we must stop," she explains. 

What about patches and gums?

For patches and gums, Nathalie Latour explains that they have an effectiveness rate of 50 to 70%. Moreover, they are reimbursed by Social Security. For the heaviest smokers, Nathalie Latour also advises to combine them. "What is important is precisely to be accompanied by someone at a distance or in consultation. Being accompanied by a professional increases the chances of quitting," she suggests. 

Nathalie Latour also evokes other methods, in particular cognitive-behavioral techniques (CBT) which will rather help people who would like to understand in which situations they want to smoke and to work on these scenarios.

Other alternative therapies, including hypnosis, acupuncture or relaxation therapy, can help.

It all depends on what you are looking for and what you want.

And the electronic cigarette?

According to the Addiction Federation, the electronic cigarette is a way to stop or reduce tobacco. "We know that electronic cigarettes are 95% less harmful than tobacco. There are still more than 700,000 people who have quit smoking thanks to electronic cigarettes. So if it's something that works well, you have to get hold of it, especially since it is still documented to be less harmful, "says Nathalie Latour.