Resources to Help You Quit Smoking
If you are ready to stop smoking, there are many ways to increase your chances of quitting. The right mix of support, planning, and medicine can help you quit for good. It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve tried to quit in the past. Consider checking out your options. Most are free.
Experts at UPMC hospitals
You can call the UPMC Referral Service at 1-800-533-UPMC to learn about group support sessions. Tobacco treatment specialists at many UPMC hospitals and clinics will help you develop a personalized quit plan.
The Pennsylvania Free Quitline
This hotline provides telephone support at 1-800-QUIT NOW. Counselors are available any time, day or night, every day. They also can connect callers with local services.
Medicine
Medicine can double your odds of quitting. It can help you feel more comfortable as you adjust to life without cigarettes. Talk to your doctor to decide which medicine (if any) might be right for you.
Self help guide
Journey to a Smoke Free Life is a self-help workbook written by experts at UPMC. It can help you develop a successful strategy to quit.
Online help
An online resource, www.smokefree.gov, allows you to choose the type of help that is right for you. This website offers:
- a step-by-step guide to quit smoking
- instant messaging to an expert at LiveHelp service
- free articles and booklets that can be downloaded, printed, or ordered
At the hospital
If you are an inpatient at a UPMC hospital:
- Ask your nurse if the hospital has the UPMC patient education TV channel, which features a video about quitting smoking.
- Ask to talk one-on-one with a smoking cessation counselor.