Why Mentorship Matters in Quitting Nicotine

January is National Mentorship Month, a time to highlight the power of guidance, connection, and encouragement. Mentorship is often associated with learning new skills, career paths, or education, but it also plays a meaningful role in behavior change, including quitting nicotine, vaping, or tobacco products.

Quitting nicotine requires more than willpower. It involves changing routines, managing cravings, handling stress differently, and navigating social situations. People trying to quit are more successful when someone is walking alongside them.

The Role of Accountability

Accountability creates structure during the quit journey. It provides regular check-ins, emotional support, and problem-solving when challenges arise. A mentor or accountability partner can help someone stay committed to quitting goals and remind them why they started.

According to SmokefreeSC, “Support from friends, family, or trained quit coaches can make quitting easier and improve chances of success. Surrounding yourself with positive support helps you stick to your quit plan.”

Mentorship for Youth and Young Adults

Youth and young adults benefit from mentorship and accountability differently from adults. They are more influenced by peers, social norms, and shared experiences. Support from a friend, teammate, parent, or youth leader can help young people stick to a quit attempt or decide to quit in the first place.

SmokefreeSC offers youth-specific resources to help teens quit or avoid nicotine, including text programs and mobile apps such as This is Quitting. These tools provide motivational messages, progress tracking, and reminders to help teens manage cravings and build confidence in quitting.

Parents as Health Mentors

Parents often serve as quiet mentors. They set expectations, model behaviors, and communicate family norms. When parents talk openly about nicotine risks, set tobacco-free expectations in the home, and encourage quit attempts, they create supportive environments that make it easier for teens to quit or avoid nicotine altogether.

To support parents in these conversations, Tobacco Free York County is launching a Parents’ Corner Toolkit. This toolkit includes conversation starters and guidance to help parents discuss nicotine use with their teens and create a positive environment for quitting. Using these tools alongside mentorship strengthens both motivation and accountability for youth.

Professional Mentorship Through Quitlines

Structured mentorship is also available through evidence-based quit coaching. SmokefreeSC highlights the SC Tobacco Quitline, which provides trained counselors, free counseling, and cessation tools tailored to the individual’s needs. These quitline services are available for youth and adults alike and increase the likelihood of successfully quitting nicotine.

Community Conversations and Shared Learning

Community storytelling also reinforces mentorship. At Tobacco Free York County, we highlight how support systems, relationships, and peer conversations influence nicotine decisions. Our podcast series features personal stories, youth voices, expert discussions, and parent perspectives on quitting, nicotine, and health. Mentorship emerges throughout these stories as a key factor in confidence, resilience, and long-term success.

National Mentorship Month Reminder

National Mentorship Month is a reminder that quitting nicotine does not need to be an isolated journey. Whether mentorship comes from a peer, parent, teacher, counselor, coach, or trained quitline provider, support makes a difference. Accountability is not about perfection, but about having someone who helps you stay consistent, navigate setbacks, and celebrate progress.

Parents can use the Parents’ Corner Toolkit from Tobacco Free York County to start conversations, provide guidance, and model positive behaviors that reinforce the quit journey for youth. Together with community support, mentorship, and accountability can increase the chances of lasting success.

For Further Support

• SmokefreeSC Quit Resources: Text programs, mobile apps, and quitline support
• SmokefreeSC Youth Support: Resources to help teens quit vaping
• SmokefreeSC Community Programs: Vape Talk presentations and parent resources
• SC Tobacco Quitline: Free counseling for adults and youth
• Tobacco Free York County: Parents’ Corner Toolkit and podcast series

Sources

• SmokefreeSC. Quit Smoking/Vaping Resources. Accessed 2026. (smokefreesc.org)
• SmokefreeSC. Help Youth Quit Vaping. Accessed 2026. (smokefreesc.org)
• SmokefreeSC. Vape Talk Presentations and Resources. Accessed 2026. (smokefreesc.org)
• SC Tobacco Quitline. Quit Support Services. Accessed 2026. (quitnowsc.org)
• Tobacco Free York County

‍