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Quitting smoking: Preventing slips or relapses
A slip means smoking one or two cigarettes after you have quit smoking. It usually happens in the first week after you quit. It doesn't mean that you will start smoking again. But it means that you may need to do something different, such as try a new treatment or get support.
A relapse is returning to regular (usually daily) smoking after you have tried to quit. Relapse is common. It means that you need to pay attention to those things that led to your starting to smoke again and to avoid those things the next time you try to quit.
Test Your Knowledge
If you smoke one or two cigarettes after you have quit smoking, it means you've had a relapse.
TrueSmoking one or two cigarettes after you have quit smoking is called a slip. It usually happens in the first week after you quit. A relapse is a return to regular smoking after you have tried to quit.
FalseSmoking one or two cigarettes after you have quit smoking is called a slip. It usually happens in the first week after you quit. A relapse is a return to regular smoking after you have tried to quit.
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Why is it important to deal with slips quickly?
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Quitting smoking: Preventing slips or relapses
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: July 22, 2009 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine John Hughes, MD - Psychiatry | |
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