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Smoking Cessation
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The Stages of Change Model
For Addictive
Substances as Nicotine
(by Prochasko).
A very helpful model of change has been
developed by Prochaska and DiClemente (1982, 1986). They developed their
model by studying how change occurred in smokers attempting to stop
smoking. This led them to describe change as occurring in stages or
steps. Change is not a sudden event, occurring in a moment of
transportation when a person shreds his/her last cigarettes and vows
never to smoke again. Rather, change occurs in stages. These are:
1.
Precontemplation (not thinking about change)
– describes a stage in which a person is not even considering change.
Precontemplators are mostly aware of the positive aspects of smoking and
are less inclined to process information on the negative aspects of
smoking. A precontemplator does not consider that there might be a
problem, or that change is possible. They are essentially “happy”
smokers.
2.
Contemplation (thinking about change)
– describes a stage in which a person is ambivalent: in two minds
about changing. A contemplator will often convey that part of them wants
to change, and part does not. In moving along the continuum to the next
stage (Action), a person becomes increasingly aware of, and affected by,
the negative consequences of smoking. A person is “ unhappy” because they
are in conflict.
3. Action-
this is the process of doing smoking. The impetus to move into this stage
occurs when the negative aspects of smoking outweigh the positive. In
this stage, a person chooses strategies for change and pursues them. A
person may be an “unhappy” non-smoker at this stage because they are
contending with the ‘withdrawal’ and the craving to smoke which is most
intense in the initial stages of quitting.
4. Maintenance
– in this stage, a person is working towards
maintaining their non-smoking lifestyle. As time passes, the urge to
smoke diminishes and a person adjusts to not smoking. This is why, at
this stage, most ex-smokers begin to consider themselves “happy”
non-smokers.
5. Exit –
could be permanent or temporarily, much depends on the
skills the client empowered with, continuous support and understanding by
the surroundings, at home, at work and social support.
Lapses, if not addressed
properly could lead into full relapse, and the
cycle can begin once again from any stage.
Congratulation! Your continuous reading is
encouraging.
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