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Giving up addiction


SAMHSA’s National Helpline | SAMHSA

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  • SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.

    Also visit the online treatment locator.

SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357) (also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service), or TTY: 1-800-487-4889 is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations.

Also visit the online treatment locator, or send your zip code via text message: 435748 (HELP4U) to find help near you. Read more about the HELP4U text messaging service.

The service is open 24/7, 365 days a year.

English and Spanish are available if you select the option to speak with a national representative. Currently, the 435748 (HELP4U) text messaging service is only available in English.

In 2020, the Helpline received 833,598 calls. This is a 27 percent increase from 2019, when the Helpline received a total of 656,953 calls for the year.

The referral service is free of charge. If you have no insurance or are underinsured, we will refer you to your state office, which is responsible for state-funded treatment programs. In addition, we can often refer you to facilities that charge on a sliding fee scale or accept Medicare or Medicaid. If you have health insurance, you are encouraged to contact your insurer for a list of participating health care providers and facilities.

The service is confidential. We will not ask you for any personal information. We may ask for your zip code or other pertinent geographic information in order to track calls being routed to other offices or to accurately identify the local resources appropriate to your needs.

No, we do not provide counseling. Trained information specialists answer calls, transfer callers to state services or other appropriate intake centers in their states, and connect them with local assistance and support.

  • Suggested Resources

    What Is Substance Abuse Treatment? A Booklet for Families
    Created for family members of people with alcohol abuse or drug abuse problems. Answers questions about substance abuse, its symptoms, different types of treatment, and recovery. Addresses concerns of children of parents with substance use/abuse problems.

    It's Not Your Fault (NACoA) (PDF | 12 KB)
    Assures teens with parents who abuse alcohol or drugs that, "It's not your fault!" and that they are not alone. Encourages teens to seek emotional support from other adults, school counselors, and youth support groups such as Alateen, and provides a resource list.

    After an Attempt: A Guide for Taking Care of Your Family Member After Treatment in the Emergency Department
    Aids family members in coping with the aftermath of a relative's suicide attempt. Describes the emergency department treatment process, lists questions to ask about follow-up treatment, and describes how to reduce risk and ensure safety at home.

    Family Therapy Can Help: For People in Recovery From Mental Illness or Addiction
    Explores the role of family therapy in recovery from mental illness or substance abuse. Explains how family therapy sessions are run and who conducts them, describes a typical session, and provides information on its effectiveness in recovery.

    For additional resources, please visit the SAMHSA Store.

Last Updated: 08/30/2022

SAMHSA Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator

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Welcome to the Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator, a confidential and anonymous source of information for persons seeking treatment facilities in the United States or U.S. Territories for substance use/addiction and/or mental health problems.

PLEASE NOTE: Your personal information and the search criteria you enter into the Locator is secure and anonymous. SAMHSA does not collect or maintain any information you provide.

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The Locator is authorized by the 21st Century Cures Act (Public Law 114-255, Section 9006; 42 U.S.C. 290bb-36d). SAMHSA endeavors to keep the Locator current. All information in the Locator is updated annually from facility responses to SAMHSA’s National Substance Use and Mental Health Services Survey (N-SUMHSS). New facilities that have completed an abbreviated survey and met all the qualifications are added monthly. Updates to facility names, addresses, telephone numbers, and services are made weekly for facilities informing SAMHSA of changes. Facilities may request additions or changes to their information by sending an e-mail to [email protected], by calling the BHSIS Project Office at 1-833-888-1553 (Mon-Fri 8-6 ET), or by electronic form submission using the Locator online application form (intended for additions of new facilities).

Failure Plan - Tubakainfo

A quit plan can be successfully used to quit all tobacco and nicotine products in order to get rid of nicotine addiction.

During the two-week preparation period, remember the following:
  • Set aside time to use tobacco or nicotine products. For example, if you are used to smoking while driving, now stop the car and get out to smoke. nine0012
  • Do not use nicotine during free moments at home or at work, do it at a separate time later.
  • Move electronic cigarettes, lighters, snuff boxes, etc. to unfamiliar places. Create nicotine-free zones in your home and expand them all the time!
  • Write down the reasons why you want to quit nicotine.
  • Ask friends and family not to use tobacco and nicotine products around you, or to quit nicotine with you. Mutual agreement is a good motivation. nine0012
  • Set an exact date for quitting nicotine, seriously prepare for it and stick to the chosen date.
  • Don't be afraid to ask for help. The withdrawal process is much more successful when done under the supervision of a trained healthcare professional. Ask your family doctor for help or find your nearest consultation office here.

The first four days are the hardest, below you will find ideas and tips on how to overcome difficulties during this time

First day without nicotine

  • Find activities to replace your tobacco or nicotine use - sports or otherwise.
  • Be active, go for a walk, to the cinema, to the theatre.
  • Try to avoid nervous situations.
  • Keep a diary.

Second day without nicotine

You need to fight possible nicotine cravings

  • Drink 6-8 glasses of water a day.
  • Nervous, take a deep breath, hold the air and exhale calmly - the desire to be rude will disappear! nine0012
  • Go in for sports, walk with people who also do not use nicotine.
  • Chew sugar-free gum.
  • Do not eat sweets.

All inconveniences pass, they only mean that the process of getting rid of nicotine addiction is underway. Now it's probably difficult, so take your time, take it step by step. Remember what motivated you to quit.

Third day without nicotine

You start looking for excuses to start over. Hold on! nine0004

  • If you take even one puff from an e-cigarette or smoke a cigarette or snuff/nicotine pad, you will have to start the path of quitting all over again. In addition, you feel sorry for yourself for not being able to quit, and your motivation drops.
  • If you are thinking about trying lower nicotine products, think carefully, because you will continue to maintain your mental addiction while using the product and it will be harder for you to quit nicotine in the long run. nine0012
  • Keep a diary and write down all the reasons why you decided to quit nicotine. Keep reading them!

Fourth day without nicotine

You survived the three most difficult days! Accept congratulations or praise yourself!

  • Avoid crises at home and at work - think first, speak later.
  • Strictly avoid alcohol for the first two weeks. In the next two months, you can consume some alcohol in a company where no one uses nicotine. nine0012
  • Calculate the money saved from unpurchased tobacco and nicotine products and calculate how much you will save in the future.

In moments of temptation
  • Stay away from other nicotine users, at least initially.
  • Avoid alcohol, coffee and other drinks that you associate with nicotine.
  • Change your routine - avoid the shops where you used to buy these products.
  • Never allow yourself to think that one mistake won't do anything - it's a slippery slope. With one mistake, everything will start again, and the greater will be the disappointment from one's own impotence. Keep your confidence! nine0012
  • Help your body get rid of nicotine as soon as possible. Drink plenty of fluids. Always keep a glass of water or juice nearby, drink in small sips.
  • Eat fruits, whole grains, and fiber-rich foods.
  • Change your eating habits - for example, instead of three large meals, eat at different times or in small portions five times a day..
  • Rearrange the furniture, getting rid of your favorite corner where you used tobacco or nicotine products. nine0012
  • Instead of using nicotine after a meal, get off the table and brush your teeth.
  • Keep yourself busy. Quitting nicotine is the right time to exercise. Swimming, jogging, walking with ski poles, aerobics, etc. are suitable for starters.
  • Identify what makes you want to use nicotine. Find ways to deal with these factors.
  • Instead of using tobacco or nicotine products, put carrots, sugar-free gum, etc. in your mouth.
  • Tell your friends and family that you have quit nicotine.
  • Agree with a family member or friend about the fine/action you must pay/take if you slip.
  • If your partner also uses nicotine, offer to quit together or ask them not to use around you.
  • Think Positive - Withdrawal can be unpleasant, but it shows that your body is recovering from the harmful effects of tobacco and nicotine. nine0012
  • And above all, don't be afraid to seek help from a counselor, especially in difficult times. Together you will surely find the best treatment.

Stay nicotine free Quitting nicotine for a short time is easy, but staying nicotine-free for a long time is already difficult. It is important that you stay true to your decision during the first month, then the risk of repeated use of nicotine will decrease significantly. If you have not used tobacco and nicotine products for 12 consecutive months, then your path to quitting smoking has come to an end. nine0006 The main reasons for resuming nicotine use are usually the following :

Stressful situations. To reduce stress, you should consciously abstain from the usual nicotine product and use more effective means (exercise for relaxation, rest, change of scenery, activities for the soul, etc.).

Withdrawal symptoms. Most throwers don't have much infraction or problem. Initial hunger caused by deprivation of the body of a daily dose of nicotine and / or an ingrained habit of nicotine use can be expressed in different ways: inexplicable malice, irritability, mood swings, general restlessness, sleep disturbances, etc. All these symptoms quickly pass and are easy to manage , if you are aware of their causes, maintain firmness of intentions and apply active auxiliary means. If they persist longer and interfere with life, you can ask your family doctor, nurse, or smoking cessation consultant for help. nine0005

Believe in yourself !

What to do if quitting fails? In no case should you give up and blame yourself. But don't try again right away. It is best to take a delay of a couple of weeks or a month and consider the reason for your failure. It is honest introspection, the accumulation of new energy and the wisdom of learning from your own mistakes that will help you start the process again and achieve your goal.

All recommendations can only serve as support for your own desire. Quitting smoking is not easy, but wisdom and perseverance will lead to success. nine0005

If you feel that you cannot cope alone and need help, seek help from a specialist.

Download Waiver Plan

What gives quitting smoking?

It is important for a person who has made a decision to quit smoking to get the fullest understanding of the nature and essence of his addiction. In this case, smoking cessation will be conscious and long-term.

What is tobacco?

In everyday life, tobacco is most often called the leaves of the plant of the same name subjected to drying and grinding, used for smoking. The main component of tobacco that provides its psychoactive properties is nicotine. There are different varieties of tobacco, the nicotine content in them varies between 0.3-5%. nine0005

Nicotine is a plant alkaloid found in the leaves of tobacco, potato, tomato and other nightshade plants. It is a powerful poison of neurotoxic action, actively used in the manufacture of insecticides. In small doses, it causes a state of mild arousal, which to a large extent contributes to the development of dependence on tobacco.

Nicotine addiction is one of the most persistent - yielding to cocaine and heroin, it is noticeably stronger than dependence on alcohol and marijuana, which raises considerable obstacles in the way of a person who has decided stop smoking .

The lethal dose of nicotine for humans is approximately 0.5 to 1 milligram per kilogram of body weight.

The principle of action of nicotine

Nicotine enters the lungs of a person with tobacco smoke, very quickly penetrates into the bloodstream and reaches the brain. By acting on the so-called nicotinic acetylcholine receptors present in the brain, nicotine activates them, which leads to additional production of adrenaline in the body. In addition to this, the concentration of the “pleasure hormone” dopamine in the brain increases. As a result of these processes, a state occurs that smokers describe as generally relaxed, slightly euphoric, conducive to concentration during mental work. nine0005

Psychoanalysts say that another portion of pleasure for a smoker is provided by stimulation of the mouth muscles and lips while smoking, which at the subconscious level returns him to the very beginning of life, because the feeling of satisfaction and security arises in an infant while sucking on the mother's breast.

The consequences of smoking

When tobacco is burned, several thousand various compounds and substances are formed, of which at least three hundred are poisons that have a detrimental effect on the human body. nine0005

These are, for example, compounds such as carbon dioxide, acetone, hydrogen sulfide, hydrocyanic acid and many others. The so-called "tobacco tar", which is an integral part of tobacco smoke, includes many carcinogenic compounds, in particular heavy metal salts and carboxylic acids.

Smoking contributes to the development of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Among smokers, mortality from myocardial infarction, lung cancer and other malignant tumors is very high. nine0005

All this is an effective incentive to quit smoking .

Benefits of quitting smoking

The withdrawal syndrome resulting from quitting is characterized by relatively mild manifestations such as irritability, insomnia, possibly bulimia, which can lead to weight gain.

With the right organization of the treatment process, all these unpleasant effects are overcome, and smoking cessation will pay off handsomely in the future:

2 hours after smoking cessation – withdrawal of nicotine from the body, the first manifestations of withdrawal syndrome.

12 hours - removal of carbon monoxide from the body, easier breathing.

48 hours - the sense of smell and taste become sharper.

2-3 weeks - the withdrawal syndrome completely ceases to remind of itself, the state of health noticeably improves.

3 months - the functions of the circulatory system return to normal. nine0212

4-6 months - the respiratory system recovers, shortness of breath and "smoker's cough" disappear.

3-5 years - half the risk of myocardial infarction.

Tobacco addiction, unlike drug or alcohol addiction, does not lead to noticeable personal degradation even after a long time.

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