The Journal
Free web-based support and medications are helping Coloradans keep their New Year’s resolutions to quit smoking, the Colorado Office of Communications said in a news release.
Quitting smoking is among the most common New Year’s resolutions.
“The benefits of quitting are immediate and long-lasting, from finally tasting food to shaking that persistent cough to avoiding cancer, stroke and heart disease down the road,” said Dr. Tista Ghosh, interim chief medical officer of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Research has shown that support such as medication or coaching can more than double the chances of quitting.
New online resources are available for free through the Colorado QuitLine.
“QuitLine services are changing to meet those demands,” said Clinical director Thomas Ylioja. “We’ve added new features such as e-coaching, where clients can chat with a coach online rather than over the phone, if that’s what they’d prefer. Or, they can enroll online in a few minutes and receive coaching calls over the phone. Clients also can order nicotine patches or gum online and get it delivered to their door for free.”
Tobacco Free Colorado offers free, interactive content and tips for people at every stage of the process.
Colorado QuitLine is available at 1-800-QUIT-NOW or via its website. QuitLine also offers four weeks of free patches, gum or lozenges.
Members of Health First Colorado, Colorado’s Medicaid Program, can access counseling and smoking cessation medications at no cost. Medicaid providers in Colorado can now also prescribe these medications without prior approval.
