RESOLUTIONS: Along with hitting the gym more often and starting a diet, quitting smoking tops many New Year’s resolution lists.

Quitting tobacco isn’t easy, but 50 million ex-smokers in the United States are proof that it’s achievable. Tobacco use remains the nation’s leading cause of preventable death and disease and is a serious public health threat. Nationally, nearly 40 million Americans smoke. In Pennsylvania, the adult smoking rates are 17.3% and high school tobacco use rates are 26.7%.

The American Lung Association offers tips to help Americans who are ready to commit to No Tobacco ’22:

It’s never too late to quit. While it’s best to quit as early as possible, quitting tobacco use at any age will enhance the length and quality of your life. You’ll also save money and avoid the hassle of going outside in the cold to smoke or vape.

Learn from past experiences. Think about what helped you during those tries and what you’ll do differently in your next quit attempt.

You don’t have to quit alone. Enrolling in a proven-effective cessation counseling program such as the Lung Association’s Freedom From Smoking Program can increase your chances of successfully quitting and staying quit by 50%.

Talk to a doctor about quit smoking medications, which can double your chances of quitting successfully. There are seven FDA-approved medications that are proven to help you quit.

Quit. Don’t Switch. E-cigarettes are tobacco products, and the Food and Drug Administration has not found any e-cigarette to be safe and effective in helping smokers quit. Switching to e-cigarettes does not mean quitting. Quitting means ending your addiction to nicotine. Make sure your tobacco treatment plan includes the two components proven to work- behavioral counseling plus FDA-approved cessation medication.