Health Resources and Programs
Smoking Cessation
Mark Twain said, “Quitting smoking is easy, I’ve done it a thousand times.” Although quitting smoking can be hard, it can be done. For the best chances of successfully quitting, you need to find the right approach, support and tools that will work for you.
Why should I Quit?
Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the US. Millions of Americans have health problems caused by smoking. Quitting smoking can greatly reduce your risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung disease and other health conditions. Quitting has both major and immediate health benefits:
- Former smokers live longer than those who continue to smoke.
- Everyday activities don’t leave you out of breath.
- Your sense of smell and taste will improve.
- Smoking is expensive and you’ll save money by quitting.
Ways to Quit
There a number of resources to help you to quit smoking. The trick is to find the approach that will work best for you:
Telephone-based support programs - such as the Connecticut Quit Line can provide telephone counseling and information on other strategies that can assist in quitting.
Community-based smoking cessation programs - are offered in various locations in the community. These programs generally have a low-cost fee associated with them. The Connecticut Quit Line can provide you with information about classes in your local area.
On-line quit programs - are often free and offered by organizations, including the American Lung Association.
Nicotine replacement - cigarette smoking leads to nicotine dependence which causes withdrawal symptoms when quitting. Nicotine replacement, available over-the-counter, provides nicotine in the form of gum, patches, sprays, etc. Speak with your clinician about what might work best for you.
Prescription drugs - there are medications that can assist you to quit smoking. Speak with your clinician, and check your health care benefits for coverage. (Yale Health Plan members can check their prescription drug coverage by contacting Member Services).
Links
Yale Health Plan
The Healthwise link on the YHP website features a wide range of health information, including smoking cessation. You can find interactive tools, such as the Are You Ready to Quit Smoking? and How Much is Smoking Costing You? calculators. There is also information on nicotine replacement, prescription drugs, and support programs. Visit the YHP Healthwise website.
Center for Nicotine and Tobacco Use Research at Yale (CENTURY) and the Transdisciplinary Tobacco Use Research Center (TTURC)
CENTURY/TTURC was created to help smokers who have the greatest need for help, those who cannot quit or have trouble doing so. To learn more about their research and clinical trial smoking cessation programs visit Quit With Yale.
American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is a voluntary health organization dedicated to preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service. It provides an array of helpful information on smoking cessation options. Guide for Quitting Smoking.
American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a national voluntary health agency to help reduce disability and death from cardiovascular diseases and stroke. The American Heart Association provides a number of resources on smoking cessation. Resources and Tools for Quitting
American Lung Association
The American Lung Association® offers a variety of smoking control and prevention resources. The American Lung Association offers the free on-line Freedom from Smoking Program smoking cessation program. Smoking Cessation Support.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CDC.gov (www.cdc.gov) is an online source for credible health information and is the official Web site of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC’s How to Quit website offer several government resources and other resources for smoking cessation. How to Quit.
Smokefree.gov
Smokefree.gov provides free, accurate, evidence-based information and professional assistance to help support the immediate and long-term needs of people trying to quit smoking. Smokefree.gov.
Resources Available by Phone:
American Cancer Society 1-800-ACS-2345 (1-800-227-2345)
American Lung Association Helpline 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872) Press Option 2
Connecticut Quit Line 1-866-END-HABIT (1-866-363-4224)
