Joel Spitzer has provided smoking cessation and prevention services since 1972, first as a volunteer speaker and then a member of the professional staff of the American Cancer Society. Later he served as smoking programs coordinator for the Rush North Shore Medical Center's Good Health Program, and then as a consultant for the Skokie Illinois Health Department and the Evanston Department of Health and Human Services, providing state funded smoking cessation clinics and seminars for the two Chicago suburban communities. Here at WhyQuit, Joel has served as education director since June 2000.
Joel's Library is home to:
- Joel's Reinforcement Articles - More than 100 short quit smoking articles in HTML format
- "Never Take Another Puff" - Joel's above collection of reinforcement articles are available as a free PDF ebook or in Kindle / MobiPocket reader format.
- Joel's Video Quit Smoking Lessons - 86 short stop smoking movie clips in which Joel shares important nicotine dependency recovery insights.
- Joel's Daily Quitting Lesson Guide - This guide suggests daily video and reading lessons for specific days during the first two weeks of quitting smoking.
- Joel's MP3 Audio Counseling Download - An extremely large zipped file (264MB) containing Joel's original 64 audio lessons, that can be loaded into an MP3 player and listened to anywhere.
- Joel's Jukebox - A fast and easy to use MP3 audio player for listening to Joel's original 64 stop smoking lessons.
- Ask Joel - If not already asked and answered, submit your quit smoking question to Joel.
- Index to Joel's Freedom Articles - Since January 2000, Joel has remained active in educating and supporting new quitters at Freedom, WhyQuit's support group. This index provides links to Joel's primary message board threads and posts.
Joel's Reinforcement Articles
Why Do People Smoke? - 16 articles
The Costs - 18 articles
How to Quit - 35 articles
Relapse Prevention - 24 articles
What About Weight Gain? - 4 articles
Teen Smoking Prevention - 5 articles
Smoking: A Historical Perspective - 4 articles
"Never Take Another Puff"
Link to 2003 PDF Edition - Download the original online version of Joel's free 149 page quit smoking book in PDF format (1.35MB), containing 97 short quitting articles. Once opened, be sure to click the "save" icon (the first icon on the far left) and save a copy to your computer. You'll then be able to search, print and e-mail "Never Take Another Puff" to friends, family members and co-workers who are smoke, chew or dip nicotine.
Link to 2006 PDF Edition - This link is to the latest edition of "Never Take Another Puff." It is a bit larger file (1.5MB), with 63 additional pages (212 total) but only four additional articles related to: (1) setting quitting dates, (2) alcohol use and alcoholism, (3) who to believe regarding quitting methods, and (4) why the decline in smoking is grinding to near standstill. If you have already printed the 2003 version, we recommened that you print the four additional articles and place them at the end of Chapter 3.
Link to Kindle - MobiPocket Version - Read Never Take Another Puff on your Kindle or MobiPocket or enjoy the Kindle book format on your computer by downloading the free Kindle for PC program.
We cannot promise that if you read Joel's entire book that you will succeed in quitting smoking. What we can promise is that you will learn how to quit and that you will never look at smoking the same again. Give this free quit smoking book one complete cover-to-cover read and you will discover why more than two millions copies have been downloaded since August 2005.
Joel's Video Quit Smoking Lessons
The below lessons are presented in four formats: YouTube - extremely quick opening video clips hosted by YouTube; Dial-Up - as smaller video files for those with slower dial-up Internet connections; HS/BB - as larger higher quality videos for those with high speed or broadband Internet access; and MP3 - as audio files for use on MP3 players. All files except for YouTube videos will play on Windows Media Player. You can click on this icon to download a Windows Media Player.
Video Title | You Tube | Dial-Up | HS/BB | MP3 | Length | Added |
| Introduction video | UTube | 1.13mb | 10.8mb | 1.83mb | 04:04 | 10/15/06 |
| Make a list of why you want to quit smoking | UTube | 2.26mb | 6.76mb | 2.77mb | 06:09 | 11/22/06 |
| Using these videos to quit smoking | UTube | 4.02mb | 12.0mb | 5.04mb | 11:07 | 11/21/06 |
| Starting day one of your quit | UTube | 3.28mb | 5.84mb | 4.09mb | 09:03 | 11/21/06 |
| Starting day two of your quit | UTube | 1.82mb | 5.39mb | 2.33MB | 05:10 | 11/21/06 |
| Starting day three of your quit | UTube | 1.37mb | 4.03mb | 1.62mb | 03:57 | 11/21/06 |
| Starting day four of your quit | UTube | 3.58mb | 10.7mb | 4.52mb | 09:58 | 11/22/06 |
| Starting day five of your quit | UTube | 1.77mb | 5.26mb | 2.18mb | 04:50 | 11/23/06 |
| Starting day six of your quit | UTube | 3.63mb | 10.8mb | 4.53mb | 09:59 | 11/24/06 |
| Starting week two of your quit | UTube | 3.19mb | 9.54mb | 3.93mb | 08:40 | 11/26/06 |
| Getting on with the rest of your life | UTube | 3.39mb | 10.1mb | 4.22mb | 09:21 | 11/27/06 |
| Addiction - the Surgeon General says ... | UTube | 4.42mb | 13.2mb | 5.49mb | 12:00 | 10/09/06 |
| Criteria of addiction | UTube | 4.09mb | 12.2mb | 5.09mb | 11:06 | 10/09/06 |
| People in recovery from other addictions | UTube | 3.24mb | 9.68mb | 4.00mb | 08:50 | 11/20/06 |
| "Why did I ever start smoking?" | UTube | 1.23mb | 12.1mb | 1.54mb | 03:22 | 09/27/06 |
| Learning how to inhale | UTube | 1.70mb | 16.8mb | 2.10mb | 04:38 | 10/02/06 |
| Why do smokers smoke? | UTube | 2.65mb | 5.70mb | 8.31mb | 18:08 | 11/07/06 |
| The Palmolive bottle demonstration | UTube | 2.84mb | 19.1mb | 3.55mb | 07:45 | 10/11/06 |
| Lung cancer | UTube | 3.04mb | 6.55mb | 8.58mb | 18:48 | 11/05/06 |
| See how smoking destroys the lungs | UTube | 1.55mb | 4.59mb | 1.87mb | 04:13 | 11/27/06 |
| Heart and circulatory diseases | UTube | 2.81mb | 5.93mb | 8.82mb | 19:18 | 11/03/06 |
| Premature deaths caused by smoking | UTube | 1.84mb | 3.62mb | 5.72mb | 12:33 | 11/06/06 |
| How did the people you know quit smoking? | UTube | 1.90mb | 18.8mb | 2.34mb | 05:10 | 09/27/06 |
| Quitting by gradual withdrawal | UTube | 2.35mb | 7.54mb | 3.25mb | 07:13 | 10/18/06 |
| My first encounter with NRT | UTube | 3.99mb | 16.1mb | 6.66mb | 14:37 | 11/16/06 |
| WhyQuit's candid views about Chantix (and Champix) | UTube | 17.8mb | 53.3mb | 22.0mb | 48:16 | 10/19/07 |
| The fear of quitting smoking | UTube | 4.09mb | 12.3mb | 5.04mb | 11:08 | 11/11/06 |
| "I don't want to quit smoking" | UTube | 6.52mb | 19.5mb | 8.09mb | 17:40 | 10/11/06 |
| "I don't need to smoke" | UTube | 3.86mb | 11.5mb | 4.75mb | 10:29 | 11/09/06 |
| "I'm safe from smoking because of my genetic makeup | UTube | 3.45mb | 10.3mb | 4.26mb | 09:24 | 11/24/06 |
| "I can't quit or I won't quit" | UTube | 6.33mb | 28.6mb | 10.15mb | 22:15 | 10/16/06 |
| "I'll be a nervous wreck forever if I quit smoking" | UTube | 3.87mb | 11.6mb | 4.77mb | 10:30 | 11/29/06 |
| "I'll never be as productive again if I quit smoking" | UTube | 2.95mb | 08.8mb | 3.63.mb | 08:01 | 11/24/06 |
| Getting colds and flus after quitting | UTube | 1.46mb | 11.1mb | 4.57mb | 10:04 | 11/18/06 |
| "I am climbing the walls because I quit smoking" | UTube | 2.69mb | 8.59mb | 3.78mb | 08:23 | 10/18/06 |
| "I have to smoke when I talk on the phone" | UTube | 2.77mb | 27.6mb | 3.43mb | 07:30 | 09/27/06 |
| "I can't drink alcohol without a cigarette" | UTube | 1.36mb | 13.4mb | 1.67mb | 03:43 | 09/27/06 |
| "If I relapse I'll smoke until it kills me" | UTube | 1.58mb | 04.4mb | 2.37mb | 05:11 | 02/25/07 |
| "I'll smoke anywhere I want" | UTube | 2.74mb | 8.74mb | 3.94mb | 08:44 | 10/18/06 |
| How I started running quit smoking clinics | UTube | 3.87mb | 38.6mb | 4.80mb | 10:32 | 09/28/06 |
| "I'm not joining this clinic" | UTube | 4.62mb | 13.8mb | 5.73mb | 12:33 | 09/27/06 |
| "Is this a symptom of quitting smoking?" | UTube | 1.91mb | 18.9mb | 2.36mb | 05:13 | 09/27/06 |
| Common symptoms | UTube | 2.18mb | 21.6mb | 2.69mb | 05:55 | 09/28/06 |
| Blood sugar symptoms | UTube | 2.03mb | 20.1mb | 2.51mb | 05:31 | 09/28/06 |
| Does smoking cause my headaches? | UTube | 2.69mb | 07.4mb | 3.95mb | 08:32 | 03/21/07 |
| The emotional stages of loss | UTube | 3.05mb | 30.4mb | 3.78mb | 08:18 | 09/28/06 |
| Carrying cigarettes | UTube | 1.85mb | 5.70mb | 3.02mb | 06:39 | 10/17/06 |
| Telling others that you have quit smoking | UTube | 2.53mb | 7.58mb | 4.07mb | 08:57 | 10/17/06 |
| Talking to others about not smoking | UTube | 5.60mb | 16.8mb | 6.92mb | 15:13 | 11/19/06 |
| Dealing with people who try to undercut your quit | UTube | 6.52mb | 19.5mb | 8.05mb | 17:42 | 11/12/06 |
| Avoiding situations where you used to smoke | UTube | 4.67mb | 13.9mb | 5.75mb | 12:39 | 11/29/06 |
| Who wants to go back to smoking? | UTube | 2.61mb | 25.9mb | 3.22mb | 07:05 | 09/28/06 |
| Dreams of smoking | UTube | 2.38mb | 7.10mb | 2.92mb | 06:28 | 11/10/06 |
| "I want one!" | UTube | 1.01mb | 5.36mb | 2.48mb | 05:33 | 10/18/06 |
| "I don't feel any better since I quit smoking!" | UTube | 3.18mb | 31.6mb | 3.94mb | 08:39 | 09/28/06 |
| "I know I will quit smoking!" | UTube | 2.37mb | 23.5mb | 2.98mb | 06:30 | 09/29/06 |
| "What bad habit should I replace it with?" | UTube | 1.86mb | 18.4mb | 2.30mb | 05:04 | 10/02/06 |
| "I'll come for reinforcement when I need it" | UTube | 3.83mb | 11.5mb | 4.73mb | 10:24 | 11/08/06 |
| The only time I think of smoking is when I get one of your stupid letters | UTube | 3.16mb | 09.5mb | 3.87mb | 08:36 | 11/27/06 |
| What is your quit smoking mantra? | UTube | 8.60mb | 14.0mb | 5.79mb | 12:47 | 11/17/06 |
| Quitting may lead to other self-improvements | UTube | 1.13mb | 11.2mb | 1.40mb | 03:07 | 10/02/06 |
| Weight control concerns after quitting smoking | UTube | 9.13mb | 21.9mb | 20.07mb | 43:56 | 11/14/06 |
| "I know I am going to gain weight if I quit smoking!" | UTube | 4.82mb | 14.4mb | 5.94mb | 13:05 | 11/28/06 |
| Money wasted on cigarettes | UTube | 1.93mb | 6.19mb | 2.72mb | 06:03 | 10/18/06 |
| "Will I ever stop thinking of cigarettes?" | UTube | 3.97mb | 11.9mb | 4.89mb | 10:47 | 11/20/06 |
Sincere thanks to Nelson A. (Skip) Coash of Encinitas, California for converting the above .wmv files to .mp3 format in late 2007 after fellow quitters at his online support group suggested the idea.
Recent YouTube Video Lesson Additions
Video Title |
YouTube Link |
Length |
Date |
| "Am I doomed to fail if I don't get professional help?" | YouTube Link | 06:47 | 01/06/11 |
| "Should I find a quit smoking buddy?" | YouTube Link | 07:46 | 01/06/11 |
| Being locked up to quit smoking | YouTube Link | 06:31 | 01/06/11 |
| Comparing quits with others | YouTube Link | 09:54 | 01/06/11 |
| "Is this a symptom of quitting smoking?" [Part 2] | YouTube Link | 11:33 | 07/22/11 |
| E-cigarettes and harm reduction | YouTube Link | 29:45 | 09/18/11 |
| "Why did I ever start smoking?" | YouTube Link | 08:19 | 09/27/11 |
| "I'm not buying cigarettes" | YouTube Link | 03:29 | 10/11/11 |
| Unexpected benefit after quitting | YouTube Link | 07:45 | 10/12/11 |
| Watching others smoke | YouTube Link | 09:33 | 10/13/11 |
| Short funny story | YouTube Link | 04:05 | 10/14/11 |
| Terrible 3s | YouTube Link | 07:52 | 10/15/11 |
| Going back to normal after quitting smoking | YouTube Link | 10:08 | 10/24/11 |
| Are there social smokers? | YouTube Link | 15:56 | 10/29/11 |
| "I smoke because I like smoking" | YouTube Link | 09:42 | 10/29/11 |
| Feel what it is like to breathe with emphysema | YouTube Link | 08:47 | 10/30/11 |
| Be prepared for holiday triggers | YouTube Link | 11:02 | 11/24/11 |
| Crutches to quit smoking | YouTube Link | 16:47 | 11/27/11 |
| Is relapse a natural part of the quitting process? | YouTube Link | 13:14 | 11/29/11 |
| The lucky ones get hooked | YouTube Link | 09:35 | 11/30/11 |
| Predestined bad days | YouTube Link | 05:15 | 12/01/11 |
| Life goes on without smoking | YouTube Link | 08:12 | 12/15/11 |
Videos Specific to Freedom from Nicotine,
WhyQuit's Education Oriented Support Group
Video Title |
YouTube Link |
Length |
Date |
| Are you ready for Freedom? | YouTube Link | 12:07 | 01/19/11 |
| Why Freedom is a cold turkey site | YouTube Link | 09:10 | 01/08/11 |
| Why Freedom discourages "buddy systems" | YouTube Link | 05:07 | 01/06/11 |
| New Year's Message for Newer Members and Readers | YouTube Link | 10:32 | 12/31/10 |
| New Year's Message for Longer Term Members | YouTube Link | 03:51 | 12/31/10 |
| Freedom's Quarterly Stats | YouTube Link | 03:40 | 12/30/10 |
Joel's MP3 Audio Counseling Download
The link below requires high speed Internet access as it allows one-step downloading of a large 264MB zipped file containing Joel's original 64 audio quitting lessons, 11 hours of listening. Depending on your Internet connection speed, the download time may take from 30 to 60 minutes. All you need to do is download the file, unzip it and load the individual (unzipped) files into your MP3 player. Our thanks to David King, who at 42 days into his own recovery created this zipped file in December 2009.
Joel's Jukebox
This link to Joel's Jukebox takes you to an extremly fast online MP3 audio player that allows for
easy listening of Joel's audio stop smoking lessons. Our thanks to HWC for building this page.
Ask Joel
Ask Joel is a forum that indexes quit smoking questions that have previously been asked and answered by Joel, or questions related to ending chemical dependence upon smokeless tobacco (snuff, dip, snus or chewing tobacco) or upon NRT (the nicotine gum, lozenge, inhaler, spray or patch). If previously unasked, or unusual, your question and Joel's response may be posted to the Ask Joel messageboards so others might benefit. Take a look at previously asked questions to see if yours has already been answered. If not, e-mail it to AskJoel@WhyQuit.com. Please use language suitable for youth. Thank you.
