Quit Smoking Now
There are many reasons why you should quit smoking, and the main one is your health. On this page you will find many good reasons to quit, along with important information and services.
There are many reasons why you should quit smoking, and the main one is your health. On this page you will find many good reasons to quit, along with important information and services. Myth vs. Fact
Myth: Smoking is not harmful to my health.
Fact: Approximately 1,300 people die in the United States each day from smoking-related causes. Smokers, on average, die 10 years earlier than nonsmokers.1
Myth: Smoking only hurts the person who is smoking.
Fact: Roughly 41,000 people die each year in the United States from exposure to secondhand smoke.1 There is no risk-free level of contact with secondhand smoke. Even brief exposure can harm nonsmokers.
Myth: Switching to e-cigarettes will make me healthier without having to quit smoking.
Fact: E-cigarettes still contain toxic nicotine. They also may contain other harmful substances such as heavy metals and cancer-causing materials.2 Since e-cigarettes are newer, we are still learning about the harmful long-term effects.
Myth: I’ve been smoking for so long that quitting now will not help me.
Fact: People’s heart rate lowers within minutes of their last cigarette. Within 24 hours, nicotine level in your blood drops to zero. After 1 to 12 months coughing and shortness of breath decrease. After one year, your risk of dying from a heart attack is cut in half.3
Myth: Quitting smoking is impossible.
Fact: Quitting smoking is really hard, but it is not impossible. Millions of people have quit smoking. In fact, there are more former smokers today than current smokers.4 Check out the resources below to help you quit.
1Centers for Disease Control. (2022). Smoking and Tobacco Use. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/fast_facts/diseases-and-death.html
2Centers for Disease Control. (2023). About Electronic Cigarettes. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/about-e-cigarettes.html#health-effects-of-using-e-cigarettes
3Centers for Disease Control. (2020). Smoking & Tobacco Use: Benefits of Quitting. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/quit_smoking/how_to_quit/benefits/index.htm
4Centers for Disease Control. (2022). Smoking Cessation: Fast Facts. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/cessation/smoking-cessation-fast-facts/index.html
HUSKY Health Covered Services to Help You Quit Smoking
Ask your regular provider about the many treatment options and support available for you in the community and online, which can help you quit smoking. These resources can also help to prevent a relapse. The following are the three main ways we can help you quit smoking:
1 Counseling
- Individual (face-to-face) counseling or group counseling (in a group with others trying to quit).
- The combination of counseling and medication works better to help stop smoking than either medication or counseling alone.
- Counseling can be completed by telephone (CT Quitline) or face-to-face visit with your provider.
- Multiple counseling sessions have led to better success with quitting smoking.
- Combining more than one type of counseling can improve your chances of quitting.
- For free help or information about quitting, call the CT Quitline at 1.800.784.8669.
2 Nicotine Replacement Products
Nicotine Replacement Products come in several forms, such as:
- Gum
- Inhalers
- Lozenges
- Nasal Spray
- Patch
Your provider can help you decide which will work best for you.
3 Prescription Medications
- Bupropion SR (Wellbutrin XL)
- Varenicline (Chantix)
- Certain medications may have side effects based on your medical history. So always talk with your provider first.
- Medications may be used with pregnant women when the risk of smoking outweighs the risk of taking the medication. Consult with your obstetrics provider.
- Prescription medications and nicotine replacement products can be used together. Consult your provider first.
This portion of the HUSKY Health website is managed by Community Health Network of Connecticut, Inc.®, the State of Connecticut’s Medical Administrative Services Organization for the HUSKY Health Program. For the general HUSKY Health website gateway, please visit portal.ct.gov/husky. HUSKY Health includes Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and is administered by the Connecticut Department of Social Services.