NEWS RELEASE: Quit Programs

Are you ready to QUIT?

The Great American Smokeout is just around the corner.  If you are ready to clear the smoke, there are many resources available to help you.

Most health plans offer some kind of assistance to Quitters, including online or phone line counseling and nicotine replacement therapy.  If you have one of the following health plans, call for more information about their programs:

Blue Cross Blue Shield of MN             1-888-662-BLUE

Health Partners                                   1-800-311-1052

Medica                                                1-866-AUIT-4-LIFE

UCARE Minnesota                               1-888-642-5566

If your health plan does not provide these tools, QUITPLAN does.  QUITPLAN provides free telephone-based counseling, personalized planning for your Quit, online support, and free nicotine replacement patches, gum or lozenges to any Minnesota whose health plan does not cover cessation services.  The QUITPLAN Helpline is 1-888-354-PLAN.

There are many web resources to assist Quitters.

·         Freedom From Smoking Online is a product of the American Lung Association for adults.  It takes you through modules and assignments to reinforce your commit to quit.  It assists you in preparing to quit according to your schedule. 

·         QUITNET offers assessment tools to assess your level of addiction and readiness to quit, assistance in arranging your own quit smoking plan, and a free Quitting Guide.

·         Way 2 Quit offers many resources on addiction, when to quit, quitting methods, and handling life after the quit.  Great tools include: 12 Tips to help eliminate stress and stressful living and How super stress-busters deal with stress.

·         Clean Break Online: The Thinking Person’s Stop Smoking Program includes six online learning lessons, interactive homework and feedback, telephone and e-mail counseling.  Clean Break teaches behavior modification techniques that assist quitters in making more effective decisions about their addictions. This online program is $149.00 (the cost of one months of smoking if you are a pack a day smoker!)

If you have tried other methods and are interested in intensive residential treatment, one is available in Minnesota.

·         The Mayo Clinic’s Nicotine Dependence Center provides an 8-day in-treatment program at a protected, tobacco-free setting. This program offers individual and group counseling, medications to relieve withdrawal, physician supervision, and long-term follow-up to prevent relapse. It is based on principles of addition therapy and behavior change, includes daily educations sessions on topics like stress management, as well as daily wellness activities and “off-unit” activities. For information on costs and insurance coverage call: 800-344-5984 (toll-free).

If you are interested in quitting the tobacco habit or think you might, join others in Aitkin County at the "Commit to Quit" program:  Thursday, November 18, at 6:00 PM at the Forty Club Convention Center in Aitkin.  Psychologist, Amy Zilka, will provide short presentation on stress reduction and behavior change during a light dinner.  Zilka, who uses individual and group hypnosis in her psychotherapy practice in the Twin Cities area, will provide group hypnosis at 7:00 PM.   Information packets on cessation tools and opportunities will be provided.

There is no cost for the seminar. To register, call Beth Swenson at Public Health at (218) 927-7272 or (800) 328-3744.