What exactly does quitting 'cold turkey' mean? It usually means stopping smoking all at once rather than gradually cutting down to no cigarettes.
When people say “I went cold turkey", they usually mean they quit suddenly and without the help of stop smoking medications like nicotine patches or gum or prescribed tablets.
Whichever method you choose, studies show that quitting smoking using nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) or prescribed stop smoking tablets increases the likelihood of success. If you add support from Quitline into the mix, you've got an even better chance. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the best approach for you.
If you feel like you've had enough of smoking or vaping and want to stop immediately – go for it! Sometimes people who quit for good just stop on the spot.
However, if quitting all at once feels too big a step, then cutting down and quitting one step at a time may be a way for you to start. When you take it step by step, quitting becomes more doable. For tips on how to quit one step at a time, read our article on cutting down to quit.
