Free services to help you quit smoking
Smoking just got a lot more expensive in Washington state. The a new federal tax that went into affect April 1 added 62 cents to the cost of a pack making the total federal tax on a pack to $1.01.
With the new federal taxes plus state taxes, the pack of brand name cigarettes at our local supermarket rang up at $7.87 today.
That means a pack of pack-a-day habit will run you about $3,000 a year.
If that’s getting a little pricey—or you just decided its time—there are two handy free resources that can help you quit:
- Washington state’s Tobacco Quit Line, a phone-in service,
- And a very nifty multimedia online program called BecomeAnEX.org, which helps you build a step-by-step plan to get off tobacco.
Both are free and non-commercial.
On the Tobacco Quit Line you can talk to trained coaches, often former smokers themselves, who will help you develop a personal plan to quit.
People who ready to try quitting can also obtain a free supply of nicotine patches or gum–a $145 value–through the Quit Line.
The Tobacco Quit Line is open Monday – Sunday: 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., and if you call at another time, you can leave a message and the coaches will call you back.
Quit Line specialists provide:
- Private counseling and support
- Advice on designing your own quit plan
- Problem-solving ideas to help you succeed
- Skills to break old habits
- Help deciding about products and medications that can help your quit be easier and more successful
Quit Line will also provide with you with a Quit Kit full of information on:
- Making a decision about quitting
- Getting ready to quit
- Knowing what to expect when you quit
- Coping with withdrawal symptoms and stress
- Asking friends, family members, or co-workers for support during your quit
- Avoiding relapse and staying tobacco free
But if you prefer, you can try using a very well done interactive online resource at www.BecomeAnEx.org, where you can develop your own step-by-step plan.
- First, the program helps you get a handle on your habit, by doing things like helping you identify triggers—the times of day and events that make you most likely to light up —which you plot out on a calendar.
- Then through short, informative videos, including talks from a top expert from the Mayo Clinic, you learn about the nature of nicotine addiction and the treatments, including medications, that can help you kick the habit.
- Next, you learn how to build up a network of supporters who can help you get through the transition from smoker to ex-smoker.
- And, finally, you get tips on how to set a quit date, take the plunge and stick to the program.
To learn more:
- Visit the BecomeAnEX.org
- Call the Quit Line at one of the following telephone numbers or visit its site online: www.Quitline.com
- 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669)
- Spanish Line 1-877-2 NO FUME (1-877-266-3863)
- Deaf and hard of hearing 1-877-777-6534
Category: Asthma, Fitness & Exercise, Lung Cancer, Lungs & Breathing, Prevention, Smoking, Uncategorized
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