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Medication Options to Assist with Smoking Cessation

Please discuss medication options with your doctor. We also recommend reaching out to your insurance company to see what medications might be covered under your plan, including:

  • Nicotine patch + nicotine gum (over the counter)
  • Nicotine patch + nicotine lozenge (over the counter)
  • Nicotrol inhaler
  • Bupropion (Zyban/Wellbutrin)
  • Verenicline (Chantix)

Quitlines and Other Smoking Cessation Support Resources

Free smoking cessation support by phone:

Free smoking cessation support by text:

  • Text QUIT to 47848

Free smoking cessation support online:

Benefits of Quitting Smoking

No matter how long you have smoked, it’s never too late to quit. As soon as you quit, your body begins to repair the damage caused by smoking. According to the American Cancer Society, you can expect short and long-term health improvements after quitting and staying smoke-free, including:

20 Minutes After Quitting:

  • Your heart rate and blood pressure drop

A Few Days After Quitting:

  • The carbon monoxide levels in your blood drop to normal

2 Weeks to 3 Months After Quitting:

  • Your circulation improves and your lung function increases

1 to 12 Months After Quitting:

  • Coughing and shortness of breath decrease

1 to 2 Years After Quitting:

  • Your risk of heart attack decreases

5 to 10 Years After Quitting:

  • Your risk of cancers of the mouth, throat and voice box (larynx) is cut in half
  • Your stroke risk decreases

10 Years After Quitting:

  • Your risk of dying from lung cancer is about half that of a smoker
  • Your risk of cancers of the bladder, esophagus and kidney decreases

15 Years After Quitting:

  • Your risk of coronary heart disease is close to that of a nonsmoker

Hazards of Smoking

  • Smoking worsens many diseases, including asthma, COPD, heart and vascular diseases and more. Choosing to quit smoking can dramatically improve your health. When you decide to quit, it’s important to completely quit as cutting down or even “light” or occasional smoking is still dangerous to your health.
  • Children can often take on habits that they observe in adults, so quitting is a great way to teach them healthy habits and possibly prevent them from smoking in the future.
  • Quitting smoking is very difficult. Smokers who quit typically quit up to 5 times on average before they are successful.

Important things to help you quit successfully

  • Set a quit date. It should be within 2 weeks of making the decision.
  • Tell your family, friends and/or co-workers about quitting. Ask them to be understanding and supportive.
  • Anticipate challenges to quitting, particularly in the first several weeks.
  • Remove tobacco products from your environment. Make your home smoke-free.