Husk the Habit: Break the Addiction & Be Smoke-Free!
By: Boone County Health Center
Did you know the number of former smokers in the United States has been higher than the number of current smokers since 2002? Are you ready to join the group of former smokers? Quitting can be intimidating, but with free resources like the Nebraska Tobacco Quitline, it can be so much easier.
Boone County Health Center (BCHC), the Nebraska Tobacco Quitline and other partners across the state are working together to Husk the Habit and connect tobacco users who are ready to quit with the resources to give them the best shot at success.
“It is never too late to quit. Quitting brings immediate advantages to not just tobacco-users, but their families as well,” BCHC Director of Cardiology and Prevention Gayla Oakley, RN said.
The following methods are proven to be effective for tobacco-users who want to quit:
- Discuss available options with a doctor
- Individual, group or telephone counseling
- Nicotine replacement therapy—either over-the-counter or prescription
- Prescription medications to aide for smoking cessation management
The Nebraska Tobacco Quitline is currently offering a free two-week supply of nicotine replacement therapy to all qualified callers. Counseling and medication are both effective for treating nicotine dependence, but using them together has been shown to increase the success rate.
“By calling the Quitline, tobacco-users have a whole team of support on their side,” Oakley said. “You can get the tools you need to be successful by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW, talking with your healthcare provider, and building that support network. We also offer a smoking cessation program at BCHC.”
For help quitting, the Nebraska Tobacco Quitline is available at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669), and for Spanish services at 1-855-DÉJELO-YA (1-855-355-3569). Translation services are also available in more than 170 languages. For additional resources and to learn more about the free NRT promotion visit www.QuitNow.ne.gov.
