#QuitStories Trevor's Story
My name is Trevor, I’m 29 years of age and a carpenter with local 93 in the Eastern Ontario area where I’ve worked for the last 5 years.
I started smoking at the age of 16 in high school. After smoking on and off for more than 12 years, I managed to quit smoking for good in January of 2018.
I’ve tried to quit 5 or 6 times before and it usually lasted 3 to 4 months each time. It was the same thing every time, something stressful happened and I thought I could limit my self to just one, but one always led to another and the cycle would begin again.
Quitting smoking when you work in the trades is difficult. There is a lot of smoking on job sites making it hard to resist the urge to smoke. If you talk to other people about quitting, you have quit, or you want to quit, usually people are supportive, however no one stops smoking around you and it’s always a temptation. Quitting smoking wasn’t a focus at work and not really talked about. But then, at one of our union meetings they had a presentation and resources about quitting. I learned that gum and the nicotine patch could really help. Everyone was talking about the presentation and it made people more aware about the challenge of quitting.
It’s even changed my life, because now I am smoke free for almost a year. Job sites are more supportive now, co-workers recognize how challenging it can be and sites now have designated smoking areas. This has been the longest I have stayed quit and it’s thanks to my union and my fellow workers for their support.
The advice I would give if you are in the trades and trying to quit smoking, stick around the guys that are not smoking, stay away from the designated smoking areas, stay inside the trailer at lunch, keep yourself occupied such as cross-word puzzles, anything to keep your mind off it helps for sure. Breaking the pattern is the most important part.
“If you are trying to quit…keep yourself occupied.”
Trevor's tip to quit smoking:
I want everyone to know that no matter how many times you have tried to quit in the past, it just takes one successful attempt and you can beat it.
Transcript |
Words on screenLiving a smoke-free life is possible. Everyone deserves a healthy lifestyle. This is Trevor’s story. TrevorMy name is Trevor Latter. I am 29 years old. I am a carpenter with Local 93. Words on screenWhen did you start smoking? TrevorI started smoking in high school. I would have been 16 years of age. I’ve been smoke-free for ten months now and it’s made a huge impact on my life. I feel healthier. I definitely don’t have to hide anything from my kids and it feels good, for sure. Words on screenWhy did you decide to quit smoking? TrevorAs you’re getting older, you start to think more about health and if you have a family, it’s important that you set a good example. Smoking’s not a good example to set at all. Words on screenHow many times did you try to quit smoking? TrevorSo I’ve tried to quit five or six times before. Usually lasting three to four months. I’m now at ten months, smoke-free and that’s thanks to the support of my union and fellow workers, for sure. Words on screenWhat helped you the most when you tried to quit smoking? TrevorNot hanging out in the same groups or same areas but uh, yeah. I just never had a support group when I tried to quit, I guess, all those times. So, that’s … that made a big difference. Words on screenHow did working in the trades impact your quit attempt? TrevorSmoking in the trades is definitely, like, it goes kind of hand in hand, in some ways, like, there is a lot of smoking on job sites and it does definitely make it tough to quit for sure. If you talk to other guys about quitting and that you have quit or want to, usually people are pretty like, “good for you”, “good job”, and pat on the back about it but… it’s uh… no one stops smoking around you, it’s still can be… it’s always a temptation that you’re around, for sure. Words on screenAre there any supports in your workplace to become smoke-free? TrevorYes. Job sites nowadays, a lot of them, it tends to be that there is designated smoking areas. So that is helping, for sure. Words on screenWhat advice would you have for someone that is trying to quit smoking? TrevorStick around the guys that aren’t smoking and stay away from the designated smoke areas. Stay inside the trailer at lunch. Keep yourself occupied too. Like, crossword puzzles, anything just to keep your mind off it would help for sure. I definitely suggest, if you have your cigarette after dinner, you have your cigarette before work, it’s just breaking the habit. Go for a walk. Get up a little earlier. Pick up a hobby. Something like that, for sure too. Words on screenWhy did you want to be a part of the #QuitStories campaign? TrevorTo really give someone that extra push. If this is what they need, to watch a video or something to put down the cigarettes, cause I believe that everyone deserves a healthy lifestyle. Words on screenWhat will inspire you to become smoke-free? To quit smoking, talk to a health care provider. |
Resources:
- Tobacco - Getting Help - KFL&A Public Health
- Become Tobacco Free - KFL&A Public Health