There is a moment many of us reach when we realize certain habits no longer serve the life we want to live. For some, that realization comes after a health scare. For others, it arrives quietly, through fatigue, shortness of breath or the growing awareness that today’s choices shape tomorrow’s outcomes.
Tobacco use is one of those habits that often lingers long after we know it is harmful, not because people lack information, but because change is hard to do alone.
As the Minority Initiative Sub-Recipient Grant Office coordinator at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, I work closely with community members who are striving to live healthier lives.
I have seen firsthand that quitting tobacco is not simply about willpower. It is about access to support, honest conversations and the understanding that asking for help is not a weakness. It is a strategy for success.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Tobacco addiction is both physical and behavioral. It is tied to routines, stress, social environments and, sometimes, trauma. That is why telling someone to “just quit” is rarely effective. Real success comes when people are equipped with tools, resources and encouragement that meet them where they are. Counseling, cessation programs, peer support and medical guidance all play a role in helping individuals break free.
Equally important is reducing the stigma around getting help. Too often, people struggle in silence because they believe they should be able to do it on their own.
But the truth is, lasting change is rarely a solo effort. Progress happens in community.
If you are thinking about quitting tobacco, know this: Support is available, and success is possible. Call the Be Well Helpline at (833) 283-9355 or visit UAPBtobaccocessation.org, because quitting tobacco is about taking control of your health again.
It is deciding that your lungs, your heart and your future matter. Taking the first step does not mean you have failed. It means you are choosing to invest in yourself. And that is always a habit worth keeping.
Marian S. Evans, Ed.D, is coordinator of the Minority Initiative Sub-Recipient Grant Office (MISRGO), at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.