Facilitating Change with Compassion: Conducting Effective Tobacco Cessation Workshops

Donald Reed led a practical session on how to run effective tobacco cessation workshops. He clarified the difference between education and quit workshops, introducing a simplified system to prevent reporting errors. Each cessation workshop must include at least five tobacco users, and leaders are encouraged to reach beyond their congregations if needed to meet that goal.

He outlined a simple structure: complete a pre-survey, show the Pathways to Freedom video, and finish with a post-survey while referring participants to the quitline. Reed emphasized the importance of collecting contact information for follow-up and noted that success comes from following this basic process consistently.

Reed closed by stressing that workshops should focus on support, not perfection. He encouraged empathy, patience, and meeting participants where they are, celebrating small steps toward quitting. His message was clear: meaningful impact comes from connection, compassion, and helping people move forward at their own pace.