American Lung Association
This website provides information on the health effects of tobacco use and how to quit, as well as resources for workplaces on going smoke-free.
Smoking Cessation
Quitting tobacco - it is important for your health!
You know tobacco is bad for your health and that it can lead to heart disease, stroke or even cancer. But you also know how addictive it is and how hard it is to quit.
Our IU Health tobacco cessation program offers you a variety of tools and support to make the quitting process easier so that you can begin to restore your health.
Reasons to Quit Smoking
The tobacco and tar in cigarettes affect your lungs, heart and blood vessels, eyes, bones and skin, can cause flare-ups of autoimmune diseases and can cause cancer almost anywhere in the body. One in five deaths in the U.S. is caused by smoking.
Vaping as safe alternative?
If you know cigarettes are bad for you, you may have considered vaping as an alternative. But e-cigarettes and vapes, like cigarettes, are harmful to your health. E-cigarettes hold dangerous chemicals that damage the lungs.
Smoke-free products are not risk free. They are also very addictive. One JUUL pod can contain the same amount of nicotine as a whole pack of cigarettes.
It’s never too late to quit
The health benefits of quitting tobacco start right away. It does not matter your age or how long you have been using tobacco. The longer you do not smoke, the more benefits. It is never too late to quit, even after a cancer or other diagnosis.
Quitting will help your treatment work better and help you feel better. It can also provide many lifestyle benefits:
- Smoking is expensive and can be hard for other people to be around
- Your family, friends and coworkers can avoid the risks of second-hand smoke
- Your better health will mean fewer missed activities and days of work
Why is it so hard to quit?
The reason it’s so hard to quit tobacco is that the nicotine in tobacco products is an addictive substance. Over time, your body grows dependent on nicotine and will suffer withdrawal if you try to quit. Withdrawal symptoms include headaches, irritability, restlessness and difficulty concentrating.
Most tobacco users make many attempts to quit before they quit for good. Think of these as learning attempts, not as failures. Each time you try, you learn what worked and what did not. You only fail when you quit trying to quit.
Our Approach to Smoking Cessation
We know quitting is hard. That’s why IU Health created treatment options individualized to meet your unique needs and goals.
To support our patients in their quit journey, IU Health offers the Centralized Tobacco Treatment Program. This free program is designed to give you personalized, individualized support.
As a patient in the CTTP, you will be given the opportunity to choose from a variety of support options and decide what works best for you. These options include:
Tobacco cessation counseling
During your first appointment, you will be connected to a trained Tobacco Treatment Specialist (TTS). This specialist will support and encourage you along every step of your quit journey. They will take the time to learn about your history with quitting and guide you in choosing a plan that works best for you.
You can schedule as many free phone appointments for support with your specialist as you need during your quitting journey.
Education
With so many different tools to quit smoking available, it can be hard to know which will work best for you. Our team can help you learn about the pros and cons of each tool, what to expect while you are quitting and how to identify other resources available in your area.
Pharmacotherapy
Studies have shown that use of nicotine replacement medications can increase your chance of successfully quitting by 50%. Options include patches, gum, lozenges, nasal spray, inhaler, and pills.
Have you tried one of these options before and been unsuccessful? Don’t worry—our team will help you choose the option that is right for you and provide you with tips on how to use these options to optimize your chance of success.
Referrals to specialists
If you have developed health conditions as result of tobacco use, your primary care provider can refer you to specialists such as cardiologists or pulmonologists to treat and manage these conditions. You can also be referred to other experts to help you deal with the difficulties of quitting, such as support groups or psychiatrists.
What To Expect
Reasons to Quit Smoking
The tobacco and tar in cigarettes affect your lungs, heart and blood vessels, eyes, bones and skin, can cause flare-ups of autoimmune diseases and can cause cancer almost anywhere in the body. One in five deaths in the U.S. is caused by smoking.
Vaping as safe alternative?
If you know cigarettes are bad for you, you may have considered vaping as an alternative. But e-cigarettes and vapes, like cigarettes, are harmful to your health. E-cigarettes hold dangerous chemicals that damage the lungs.
Smoke-free products are not risk free. They are also very addictive. One JUUL pod can contain the same amount of nicotine as a whole pack of cigarettes.
It’s never too late to quit
The health benefits of quitting tobacco start right away. It does not matter your age or how long you have been using tobacco. The longer you do not smoke, the more benefits. It is never too late to quit, even after a cancer or other diagnosis.
Quitting will help your treatment work better and help you feel better. It can also provide many lifestyle benefits:
- Smoking is expensive and can be hard for other people to be around
- Your family, friends and coworkers can avoid the risks of second-hand smoke
- Your better health will mean fewer missed activities and days of work
Why is it so hard to quit?
The reason it’s so hard to quit tobacco is that the nicotine in tobacco products is an addictive substance. Over time, your body grows dependent on nicotine and will suffer withdrawal if you try to quit. Withdrawal symptoms include headaches, irritability, restlessness and difficulty concentrating.
Most tobacco users make many attempts to quit before they quit for good. Think of these as learning attempts, not as failures. Each time you try, you learn what worked and what did not. You only fail when you quit trying to quit.
Our Approach to Smoking Cessation
We know quitting is hard. That’s why IU Health created treatment options individualized to meet your unique needs and goals.
To support our patients in their quit journey, IU Health offers the Centralized Tobacco Treatment Program. This free program is designed to give you personalized, individualized support.
As a patient in the CTTP, you will be given the opportunity to choose from a variety of support options and decide what works best for you. These options include:
Tobacco cessation counseling
During your first appointment, you will be connected to a trained Tobacco Treatment Specialist (TTS). This specialist will support and encourage you along every step of your quit journey. They will take the time to learn about your history with quitting and guide you in choosing a plan that works best for you.
You can schedule as many free phone appointments for support with your specialist as you need during your quitting journey.
Education
With so many different tools to quit smoking available, it can be hard to know which will work best for you. Our team can help you learn about the pros and cons of each tool, what to expect while you are quitting and how to identify other resources available in your area.
Pharmacotherapy
Studies have shown that use of nicotine replacement medications can increase your chance of successfully quitting by 50%. Options include patches, gum, lozenges, nasal spray, inhaler, and pills.
Have you tried one of these options before and been unsuccessful? Don’t worry—our team will help you choose the option that is right for you and provide you with tips on how to use these options to optimize your chance of success.
Referrals to specialists
If you have developed health conditions as result of tobacco use, your primary care provider can refer you to specialists such as cardiologists or pulmonologists to treat and manage these conditions. You can also be referred to other experts to help you deal with the difficulties of quitting, such as support groups or psychiatrists.
- Do you recommend any medicines to help me quit smoking?
- Are there any support groups near me?
- What health problems am I at risk for?
- Will diet and exercise help?
- What else can I do to make quitting easier?
Questions To Ask Your Provider
- Do you recommend any medicines to help me quit smoking?
- Are there any support groups near me?
- What health problems am I at risk for?
- Will diet and exercise help?
- What else can I do to make quitting easier?
How to Get Started
Interested in getting connected to the IU Health Centralized Tobacco Treatment Program? Ask your primary care provider for a referral.
If you are not an IU Health patient, call the Indiana Tobacco Quitline, 1.800.Quit.Now (800.784.8669) for other support options.
Feb 27
It started with patients of IU Health Simon Cancer Center and now the Tobacco Treatment Program is expanding to all patients.
Patient Stories for Smoking Cessation
Feb 27
It started with patients of IU Health Simon Cancer Center and now the Tobacco Treatment Program is expanding to all patients.
Indiana Quit Line
The Indiana Tobacco Quitline is a free phone-based counseling service that helps Indiana smokers quit.
American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society focuses on the rewards of quitting smoking, from the immediate health benefits to cost savings and gives advice on techniques for quitting.
Resources
American Lung Association
This website provides information on the health effects of tobacco use and how to quit, as well as resources for workplaces on going smoke-free.
Indiana Quit Line
The Indiana Tobacco Quitline is a free phone-based counseling service that helps Indiana smokers quit.
American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society focuses on the rewards of quitting smoking, from the immediate health benefits to cost savings and gives advice on techniques for quitting.