• Talk to your doctor about your smoking and see the different types of options available for quitting.

• Access the Quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW or on the web at www.smokefreeglbt.org for support and resources for quitting and staying quit!

• Know that quitting cold turkey works for some, but for most it is not successful. The most successful approaches to quitting smoking include combined strategies and a supportive atmosphere of friends and family.

Do you know someone that is trying to quit? Here are some tips for support:

• Avoid the traps. Your friend probably knows just how bad smoking is for their health. Telling them it's bad or they should quit doesn't motivate them: it just shows you don't understand.

• Understand that this is big. If your friend tries to quit, they are doing something really big: changing a deeply ingrained habit that probably goes back to their childhood, that likely affects most aspects of their life, and that also has a nasty addiction attached to it.

• Think about support, not guilt! Most smokers try 7-8 times before they succeed at quitting. And each quit attempt moves them closer to the final success, especially if it lasts longer, or if it helps them reduce their number of cigarettes smoked daily. So, think about supporting their success and forgetting the guilt if your friend starts smoking again.