The rules you already live with
Anyone who smokes in Shreveport knows the routine of stepping outside. The state statute behind much of that is R.S. 40:1291.11. It says no person shall smoke in a public building, in a school, or in a public place and enclosed area within a place of employment. So offices, schools and most indoor public spaces in Caddo Parish are covered.
The same section lists places it does not reach. Bars, outdoor patios and retail tobacco businesses are on that list, and gaming facilities can keep designated smoking areas, though the statute says restaurants inside them must stay smoke-free. So if you spend an evening at a gaming facility, what you see on the gaming floor and what applies in its restaurant can differ. Cities can have their own rules too, so if you want the full picture for a specific building in Shreveport, check with the city or the owner rather than assuming the state list is the last word.
The Kings Highway campus
LSU Health Shreveport, on Kings Highway, has its own policy. Its Chancellor's Memorandum CM-10 says that as of July 1, 2010, its properties became a smoke free organization, with smoking barred on every property the Health Sciences Center owns or leases. The memo covers employees, students and visitors, and says people who break it are encouraged to go to the public sidewalks instead.
If you work, study or visit there regularly, that means a walk off the property every time you want a cigarette. Some people find that daily walk is what gets them thinking about stopping smoking or vaping. Others simply want to be ready for a new job or a move where the same kind of rule applies.
These rules don't make any choice for you. They are just part of the landscape around a decision you make on your own terms.
What kinds of help are listed
The listings on this site are plain and fall into three groups:
- Stop-smoking coaches, who meet one-on-one in person, by phone or by video and help you build a plan around your routine.
- Consulting hypnotists, who offer hypnosis sessions. Ask how many sessions they usually suggest and what each one involves.
- Group programs, where several people meet on a set schedule to talk through plans and setbacks together.
This directory does not run any of these services and does not check anyone's background or training. It introduces you to independent providers, and the choice of who to work with is yours.
Questions to put to any provider
Before you book, ask:
- What does a first meeting look like?
- How many meetings do people usually have with you, and how far apart?
- Do you work with people who vape as well as people who smoke?
- Do you meet in person in Shreveport or Bossier City, online, or both?
- What does it cost in total, and what happens if I need to cancel?
- What will you ask me to do between meetings?
Write down the answers so you can compare. Be wary of anyone who makes promises about how things will turn out; nobody can know that in advance.
Shreveport logistics
Shreveport is spread out, and Bossier City sits across the Red River, so where a provider meets can make a real difference to your week. If your job is on Kings Highway, a provider close to that campus may be easiest to reach at lunch. If you commute across the river from Bossier City, an early-morning or evening slot on your side of the bridge may suit you better.
Video sessions skip the drive. They can be easier to keep during busy weeks, on night shifts or when the car is in the shop. Group programs usually meet in person, so check the location and the parking before the first evening.
Thinking about the people around you
If you live with others, tell them what you are planning and ask what kind of support you would like. Some people want company on a walk at the time they would usually smoke. Others want no comments at all. Saying so ahead of time saves friction later.
If you also want to talk with your own doctor about stopping smoking or vaping, you can do that alongside any listing you choose here.