Quitting is one of the best things you can do for your health—and your wallet!  It also can be scary, especially if you have quit before.  But there is good news!  As soon as you quit, your body starts to heal.  And every time you quit, you are closer to being tobacco-free for life!

Here are two tools to help you beat nicotine addiction for good!

1.  Double Your Chances of Quitting with Medicine

Seven medicines are approved by the FDA to make quitting more comfortable.  Five of these have nicotine, the addictive chemical in tobacco.  These medicines work by putting nicotine into the blood through the skin, helping reduce cravings.  The patch works slowly all day, so many people combine the patch with a faster-acting medicine like gum or inhaler.

• Nicotine patches (with or without prescription)

• Nicotine gum (with or without prescription)

• Nicotine lozenge (with or without prescription)

• Nicotine inhaler (prescription)

• Nicotine nasal spray (prescription)

Two medicines do not have nicotine.  They help reduce cravings by acting directly on the brain.

• Chantix (prescription)

• Buproprion SR (prescription)

Talk to your doctor about the best medicines for you, and be sure to get a prescription even if they are available over the counter.  Most insurance will help you get these medicines for a very low cost or even free if you have a prescription!

2.  Free Coaching from Quit Now Indiana

When you enroll, you can get a free starter pack of nicotine medicine if you have Medicaid, Medicare, or no insurance!

• Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW to talk to a coach who can help you make a plan to beat nicotine cravings and stay tobacco-free for life!

• Visit www.equitnow.com to web chat with a coach and use online tools.

• Ask your phone or web coach about Text2Quit, which sends you personalized   messages through your quit journey!

For questions about these or other tobacco cessation tools, please contact Linda Bundick, HealthNet’s Tobacco Cessation Coordinator at lbundick@iuhealth.org or 317-957-2007.

Post by Linda Bundick

What is the Great American Smokeout (GASO)?

The Great American Smokeout (GASO) is a nationwide event held each year on the third Thursday of November.  The goal of GASO is to encourage people who smoke to give up their cigarettes for one day.  The hope is that they will continue to stay quit!

History of GASO

The concept of GASO began in the 1970’s when people in Randolph, Massachusetts were asked to give up cigarettes for one day and donate the money they saved to a high school scholarship.

The idea escalated from there.  In 1976, nearly 1 million people quit smoking during GASO in California alone!  Since then not only have millions of people quit smoking, but smoking bans have taken place in businesses, cities and states nationwide.

Why quit?

The human body starts recovering from any damage caused by smoking almost immediately after quitting.  Below is a chart from the American Cancer Society that shows details of how the body heals itself after one quits smoking.

How to quit?

Research shows that the chances of quitting and staying quit drastically increase when help is sought, whether it be a medication, support group, or smoking cessation program.  Below are some online resources for quitting.

Guide to Quitting Smoking

Smoke-free Countdown Clock

Cost Calculator

Smoke-free Journey

For more information on HealthNet’s FREE Tobacco Cessation Program, make an appointment at a HealthNet location near you.