Smoking Cessation Expert Saved Lives

To commemorate the 48th anniversary of the Great American Smokeout, psychotherapist and hypnotherapist, Dr. Steven Rosenberg visited WMMR Studios on November 21, where he joined WMMR on-air hosts Preston & Steve to help a group of 10 listeners kick the smoking and vaping habits.

In a career spanning over 40 years as a therapist, Dr. Rosenberg has helped more than 45,000 people quit smoking for good. In addition, he pioneered the Great American Smokeout in Philadelphia more than 30 years ago. Dr. Rosenberg’s hypnotherapy session was covered on-air by Preston & Steve. During the session, he utilized vivid imagery both that reduced the desire for participants to light up and made the idea of smoking a cigarette repulsive.

Past events conducted at WMMR by Dr. Rosenberg have yielded amazing results for the participants, many of whom had tried countless other ways to quit smoking without success. They left the studio free of the desire to smoke another cigarette. Dr. Rosenberg states, “There are no two ways about it. When I visit WMMR I save lives and when I work with clients in my office, I am saving lives.”

Everyone knows that smoking is bad for you. Unfortunately, stress brought about by economic woes, the recent election season, and other factors has caused some people to turn or return to bad habits, like smoking, as a way to cope. Smoking cigarettes and vaping both release dopamine, the feel-good hormone, in the brain by way of nicotine. This is a big reason why it is so hard to quit these habits.

Some facts about smoking:
While smoking reached an historic low in 2021 with 11.5 percent of the adult population currently smoking cigarettes, compared to 20.9 percent in 2005, tobacco continues to be a major cancer killer.

• Tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death in the US, accounting for about 1 in 5 deaths each year.
• Tobacco is as addicting as opiates, amphetamines and cocaine.
• Smoking causes about 20% of all cancers and about 30% of all cancer deaths in the United States.
• Smoking causes many cancers besides lung cancer. It is a major cause of cancers of the mouth, larynx, pharynx, esophagus, kidney, bladder, pancreas, and cervix and has more recently been associated with colorectal cancer, myeloid leukemia, as well as cancers of the liver, stomach, and nasal sinuses.
• On average, heavy smokers cut their life expectancy by 13 years
• Secondhand smoke contains more than 4,000 substances, more than 40 of which are known or suspected to cause cancer in humans and animals.
• Only about five percent of every day smokers are able to quit and maintain abstinence for a year, pointing to the importance of repeated attempts, multiple approaches, and ongoing support.

About Dr. Steven Rosenberg
Steven Rosenberg, Ph.D. is a psychotherapist and behavioral specialist practicing in Elkins Park, Pa. In a career spanning over 40 years, Dr. Rosenberg has helped tens of thousands of people quit smoking and lose weight through his effective programs. Using techniques such as mindfulness, affirmations and traditional therapy, Dr. Rosenberg assists clients with a variety of issues including stress, anxiety, work/life balance and sports performance.

Dr. Rosenberg has been the team psychotherapist for the Philadelphia Flyers, a consultant for the Perspective television series, and has helped many other professional and amateur athletes
throughout the world. He is a trusted expert and resource for print, online, television and radio news outlets in Philadelphia, across the U.S. and around the world. For more information visit www.quititnow.com.

About the Great American Smokeout
Every year, on the third Thursday of November, smokers across the nation take part in the American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout. They may use the date to make a plan to quit, or plan in advance and then quit smoking that day. The Great American Smokeout event challenges people to stop using tobacco and helps people learn about the many tools they can use to help them quit for good.