How do I get my brother to stop smoking?

kkelly77

My brother has been smoking for some time now and I am desperate for him to make the decision to stop. He has stopped before in the past but, for whatever reason, took them back up again. To make matters worse for him health wise, he is obese (20-21 stone) and has asthma. (It boggles the mind why he would have started in the first place )

Anyway, a few months ago he was talking about giving them up and using the e-cigs to do so. I've heard this "speech" before so I took the initiative and bought the VIP e-cig pack for him, not that I could really afford it but I want him to succeed. All started well and I could immediately tell a difference as he wasn't doing he usual cough every 30 seconds, as he does when smoking regular cigarettes.

Unfortunately, this didn't last, as he started to "forget" his e-cig when he'd go to work. Before I knew it, the e-cig was permanently being left at home and he was making frequent visits to his room to smoke on the sly. Why do smokers think that no one will smell a cigarette just because they smoke in a room with the window open :rolleyes:?

A couple of weeks ago he was getting severe coughing fits and sounded like he was going to die it was that bad. Of course, he just carries on like it didn't happen and that no one can hear. It's maddening. All of this is compounded by the fact that someone I know recently died of cancer and a friends father has just been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.

I have said to my brother recently does he realise that he is constantly coughing now and just said yes. The e-cig made an appearance a couple of times after that and I thought maybe he was giving it another try but that doesn't seem the case.

I'm at a loss as to what else I can do. I would love to see him give them up (and become a coffee addict instead ). I'd love to hear from anyone with some advice, whether you have given up yourself or you are a non smoker and convinced someone you know to give them up.

Apologies for the long winded post but I have been keeping this to myself for some time.

NIMAN

He has to want to stop himself, no good you wanting him to stop.

It all needs willpower. Many smokers don't seem to have it.

WellThen?

He has to want to do it himself.

ElChe32

It's a horrible habit and unless he wants to stop himself then it's difficult! A friend of mine when was about 12 wanted his mother to stop smoking, so at night he'd steal her cigs, dip them in milk, let them dry over night and put them back in the packet. Few months later she gave up - I doubt from the manky milky taste, but off her own will.

kkelly77

ElChe32 wrote: »

It's a horrible habit and unless he wants to stop himself then it's difficult! A friend of mine when was about 12 wanted his mother to stop smoking, so at night he'd steal her cigs, dip them in milk, let them dry over night and put them back in the packet. Few months later she gave up - I doubt from the manky milky taste, but off her own will.

It's a good idea :pac:

Funnily enough, my mother smoked for years and I finally convinced her to stop. Just as she did, my brother started :rolleyes:

username123

He has to want to give up. No point in you trying to "make" him. You have to accept that adults are entitled to make their own decisions even if you dont agree with those decisions. You cannot live someone elses life for them.

drunkmonkey

See can you convince him to go on champix and encourage him if he does.

R P McMurphy

As has been said by a number of posters if he is to stop then has to be his decision as will need a lot of willpower.

Failing this he could try an alan carr clinic or hypnotherapy. If it helps him to stop then is worth it

Green Hornet

Have a look in the vaping & e-smoking forum. Looks like the e-cig he was using or the nicotine level were not sufficient.

E-cigs do work. He'd still be addicted to nicotine but wouldnt be inhaling the thousands of carcinogens from cigarette smoke any more.

He could then wean himself off the nic by lowering the strength at his own pace.

kkelly77

drunkmonkey wrote: »

See can you convince him to go on champix and encourage him if he does.

I've never heard of Champix. Had a look at the Wiki page and the side effects don't make for pleasant reading. Suicidal thinking, cardio vascular disease etc.

R P McMurphy wrote: »

As has been said by a number of posters if he is to stop then has to be his decision as will need a lot of willpower.

Failing this he could try an alan carr clinic or hypnotherapy. If it helps him to stop then is worth it

TBH, he can use any method and will have my full support. I just want him to stop. He is the only brother I have.

daithi1970

point out to him the cost of the damn things-if he smokes 20/day,that adds up to well over 3500 e a year..also dont under any circumstances give him money-you know it will only go on fags..
daithi

kkelly77

Green Hornet wrote: »

Have a look in the vaping & e-smoking forum. Looks like the e-cig he was using or the nicotine level were not sufficient.

E-cigs do work. He'd still be addicted to nicotine but wouldnt be inhaling the thousands of carcinogens from cigarette smoke any more.

He could then wean himself off the nic by lowering the strength at his own pace.

When I got him the VIP kit, I got him the filters with the highest amount of nicotine. I don't think he had an real intention of giving up. And because the e-cigs can be smoked anywhere, I believe he was smoking them as well as regular cigerettes :eek:. Double whammy!

drunkmonkey

Green Hornet wrote: »

Have a look in the vaping & e-smoking forum.

Her brother is addicted to nicotine so should be aiming at killing that addiction. If he's not addicted to nicotine he is free from smoking.
There was a post yesterday looking at vapers intentions at giving up vaping, none of them said they would really like to not have the addiction.

kkelly77

daithi1970 wrote: »

point out to him the cost of the damn things-if he smokes 20/day,that adds up to well over 3500 e a year..also dont under any circumstances give him money-you know it will only go on fags..
daithi

I have said it to him and I'm sure he's only too aware.

With regards not giving him money, unfortunately I can't avoid that as I recently moved into his place and have to pay him rent. That's the real sickening part; that I am assisting in paying for his habit

nibble

Just to echo what everyone else has said: he has to want to quit himself. It's really that simple.

But the main reason I'm posting really is the mention of Champix, that is most certainly not a solution. It's a rather awful drug by all accounts, it was withdrawn from the U.S. market a couple of years ago and will most likely be worldwide soon enough. Don't think a GP would write a prescription for it anymore anyway.

I'm also somewhat against patches/lozenges/gum as a solution for most. They may help a very heavy smoker but IMO it's all bout the "hit" and the ritual of smoking more than any deep dependence on nicotine per se.

drunkmonkey

nibble wrote: »

But the main reason I'm posting really is the mention of Champix, that is most certainly not a solution. It's a rather awful drug by all accounts

Have you seen this thread, regardless of what you read about it on the internet there a lot of people on boards who it has helped quit smoking for good.

Green Hornet

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Her brother is addicted to nicotine so should be aiming at killing that addiction. If he's not addicted to nicotine he is free from smoking.
There was a post yesterday looking at vapers intentions at giving up vaping, none of them said they would really like to not have the addiction.

Yes, I understand that to be fair, but if he's not ready to give up, vaping will remove all of the carbon monoxide (heart) and toluene, arsenic, ammonia and god knows what else (carcinogins) from the equation and its just a hell of a lot healthier. It's an option anyway.