What is Smokenders?
Smokenders was founded in 1969 in the US and started in Australia in 1981. Since its inception, over 1 million people throughout the world have completed the Smokenders program — this includes over 40,000 Australians! Smokenders is widely recognised as the most successful quit smoking program in the world.
Do you use drugs or medical techniques?
No. We do not dispense any drugs or medical advice. The program is completely natural.
Do you use hypnosis or acupuncture?
No. The smoking habit is too complex for what we regard as simplistic 'quick-fix' cures. The program is hands-on practical and therefore does not require the use of any outside stimulus.
Are there any withdrawals?
No. The nicotine is weaned from participants’ systems before they even stop smoking. Various weaning techniques are used to ensure there are no withdrawals during or after the stop-smoking process.
Do you use scare tactics?
No. Not only do we believe these are an insult to one’s intelligence but we have found that these tactics simply do not work. A smoker already knows what harm smoking is doing to them.
(NOTE: Governments have been using scare tactics for years to make people quit smoking with little or no effect. A decade ago 25% of the Australian adult population was smoking. Today about 20% of the population still smoke.)
Do I need willpower?
No. Willpower is not needed to quit smoking because the smoker will be dealing with their habit (and addiction) before they even stop smoking.
Why is it so hard to quit smoking?
Quitting smoking can be harder than getting off heroin! The reason is because smoking is much more than an addiction. People smoke in all kinds of different situations: For example after a meal, in the car, on the phone, with a coffee or alcoholic drink, when receiving bad (or good) news, the car won't start, the kids are yelling, being late, feeling bored or lonely, being upset — the list goes on and on. Conversely, a heroin user will only use their drug when the level of the drug is lowered in their blood.
We address all the issues of the smoking habit:
PHYSICAL: Nicotine is addictive
PSYCHOLOGICAL: Dealing with ‘triggers’ such as a cigarette after a cup of coffee, after a meal, on the phone, in the car etc.
EMOTIONAL: Emotional and stressful situations such as feeling upset, angry, disappointed, worried, lonely, anxious etc.
SOCIAL: Smoking during a night out, following an alcoholic drink, lighting up when other smokers light up etc.
How does Smokenders work?
Briefly, Smokenders is a practical and hands-on program to quit smoking whereby the smoker identifies and deals with all the issues pertaining to their particular habit — while they are still smoking or using the patch. The ‘process’ allows for the participant to keep smoking up to the fifth weekly session. During this period the smoker is dealing with all aspects of their habit, as well as being weaned off the addictive nicotine drug. They learn various quitting techniques and set specific goals for their 'cut-off day'. So, when 'cut-off day' arrives, they are prepared physically, psychologically and emotionally to quit smoking — for good!
Following cut-off, there are two more weekly sessions for reinforcement. This is an important part of the program, as the smoker needs to be prepared to deal with life issues as a non-smoker. Furthermore, a full long term support network is available.
Finally, it’s important to realise that Smokenders is a smoker-friendly and supportive program. In fact, many participants have commented about how interesting, fun and effective the program is. If the program was dull, boring or uncomfortable, people would not persevere and successfully quit smoking!
How many sessions are there?
Smokenders consists of seven weekly sessions with each one lasting just under two hours.
Is it group therapy?
No. Nobody is ever asked to ‘confess’ or made to feel embarrassed. In fact, participants don’t have to say a single word!
Will I gain weight?
The reason that so many people gain weight when they quit smoking is because they substitute food for their cigarettes. Did you know that every time a smoker has a cigarette they have about 10 puffs? This means that they touch their mouth about 10 times per cigarette. So if a smoker was smoking 30 per day, they would be touching their mouth about 300 times per day. That's over 100,000 times per year!
Unless a smoker deals with this ‘hand-to-mouth’ routine, how can they possibly expect their mouth or hands not to miss all this attention?
Smokenders has effective weight control guidelines built in, so weight gain can be avoided. In fact the guidelines are so effective that some participants even lose weight by following them.
Can I use the nicotine patch or gum?
Yes. Some Smokenders participants choose to use the nicotine patch or gum during the program. However, participants looking to use nicotine substitutes should be very careful as to the level they start with. One should calculate how much nicotine or tar one is presently putting into their system (multiply the number of cigarettes by the nicotine/tar level) and then buy the appropriate patch or gum. Pharmacists should know about this.
Although participants are most welcome to use them in the program, most people who partake in Smokenders choose not to use the patch or gum. Whilst patches and gum are only nicotine substitutes, Smokenders takes care of the entire habit as well as the addiction.
Who are the instructors?
All Smokenders instructors and support staff are former smokers who have graduated from the program and who have followed our rigorous training modules. As former smokers, these professionals have ‘been there’ — they understand and care about what smokers go through to quit smoking. We are not anti-smoking.
What does Smokenders know that most smokers don’t?
Smokers don’t know everything about their habit, as it is the nature of habits to blind us to the mechanisms by which they enslave us. Smokenders has nearly 40 years of experience worldwide, specialising in smoking cessation. It was developed by former smokers and health professionals and covers every single aspect of the habit from the physical to the social and emotional.
Simply put, addiction cannot be chewed, lasered, patched nor hypnotised away!
What are some of the things that you cover in the program?
You will learn . . .
* Why you have not been able to quit on your own
* Which powerful emotional triggers have sabotaged your previous attempts
* Why you do not need willpower to stop smoking
* How to deal with the hand-to-mouth routine so you don’t put on weight
* Practical techniques for dealing with stress so that you don’t need to smoke
* Some physical tricks all ex-smokers should know
* Techniques for distracting yourself to make quitting much easier
* What to do with negative thoughts that could get you back on smoking
* How to become happy and content that you don’t smoke
* How to handle people still smoking around you
* How to cope effectively with future smoking triggers that could happen to you
Is there ongoing support after I have finished Smokenders?
Smokenders is there long after the program is over. We are just a phone call away for any assistance on our free-call Help-Line.
Will Smokenders still work if I have tried to quit smoking before?
Most smokers have tried to quit or cut down at least once before! This will make no difference to their potential success. Smokers shouldn't blame themselves for being unable to quit smoking — the fact that they never really broke the habit effectively before is because they were never shown how.
How does the new Smokenders Home Quit-Kit compare to the normal face-to-face program and what is the cost?
Although the Smokenders face-to-face program has been going since 1981 in Australia, the time has come for us to meet the demand for a home-based program. Instead of leaving home to attend a seminar, smokers can now undertake the entire Home Quit-Kit program from their own home or work. A telephone support-line is available for any questions and problems. The staff managing the phones are graduates of the program who have been trained to deal with all aspects of the program. Despite the smoker undertaking the program from home or work, there will always be help available via our free-call Help-Line.
The cost of the Smokenders face-to-face program varies from $350 - $450 depending on where it is held. The new Home Quit-Kit costs $189 (plus postage & handling) making it less costly and very convenient because smokers can do it from home.
How does the cost of Smokenders compare to the cost of smoking?
A packet a day smoker will be spending about $12 per day on their smoking habit. When comparing the cost of smoking and the cost of Smokenders, Smokenders is a bargain! In fact, for the average smoker, the Home Quit Kit pays for itself in less than 4 weeks!
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Do Health Funds give any rebates?
Some health Funds give rebates on quit smoking programs. Check with your own fund for details.
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Is Smokenders recognised or endorsed by the Cancer Council, the National Heart Foundation or Quit-Line?
In Australia, private organisations do not get recognised by these organisations. However, you will find from both the ACT Cancer Council and Quit For Life, as both organisations monitored our entire program.
What about the Smokenders program for corporations and government departments?
Smokenders can conduct on-site programs for the staff of private corporations and government departments, as well as social groups.
We have a host of you can browse through. We assist employers to go smoke-free with the least amount of disruption. Please call us on 1800-021-000 or
What is your success rate?
Surveys show that 81% of smokers who completed the Smokenders Seminar program quit smoking. Surveys also show that 71% of smokers who completed the Smokenders Home Quit-Kit program were smoke-free 6 months later.
The above figures indicate a quit rate 2 – 3 times higher than any other legitimate smoking cessation program in existence today.
Who takes part in Smokenders?
People from all walks of life have successfully completed Smokenders. Furthermore, many professional people, such as doctors, nurses and other medical experts, have also used Smokenders to beat their smoking habit.
Non-English speaking background
All Smokenders programs are provided in English with provisions for non-English speakers. Please call or email us if you require further information about translation services.
Tell A Friend
If you know someone who is thinking about quitting smoking, please tell them about Smokenders because it really works! We have a page dedicated to this which makes it quick and simple for you to send a note to a smoker. Just go to .
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