Tobacco Cessation - Visitors
One thing we know for sure – quitting “cold turkey” is not effective for most. Those who accept help are much more likely to quit for good. Using the methods below can double or triple your chances of being successful! No single quit smoking method is right for everyone. Learn more about quit smoking methods to decide which ones really work and what might be right for you at SmokeFree.gov.
1) Use your health insurance to find out your lowest cost options:
Call the number on the back of your health insurance card to find out what your individual plan offers. You can ask: “Tell me what coverage I have for tobacco use treatment such as counseling and medications.” Another idea – talk to your physician or healthcare provider about options.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires that all preventative services, including FDA approved tobacco treatment medications and all forms of counseling (individual, group, and phone), are covered and free to the consumer. If your insurance provider does not offer these services, ask: “Do you know when these services will be covered for me, in compliance with the ACA requirements?” Services will vary by health plan.
2) QuitPartner
In addition to support offered through health insurers, Quit Partner is a family of programs created to help Minnesota residents quit commercial tobacco. We offer free services to Minnesota residents who use any form of commercial tobacco, including cigarettes, e-cigarettes/vapes, and chew. Visit QuitPartnerMN.com or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (784-8669) or 1-855-DEJELO-YA (335-3569) anytime to enroll. If an individual prefers to use the national Asian Smokers’ Quitline, available in Korean, Cantonese, Mandarin, or Vietnamese, they will be transferred. National Jewish Health uses LanguageLine Solutions, which connects Quit Partner coaches and enrollees with an interpreter through three-way phone calls. LanguageLine provides interpretation for over 200 languages, including Hmong.
- Helpful Tools - Quit your way by choosing which free tools you'd like to try.
- Free medications like patches, gum or lozenges.
- Text messages with tips and advice.
- Helpful emails to support you along the way.
- Quit Coaching - Get free one-on-one quit coaching over the phone or online from trained coaches who help people just like you every day.
- Quit Partner also has specialized programs for people living with behavioral health conditions such as, anxiety, depression, bi-polar disorder, ADHD, PTSD, schizophrenia, and/or substance use disorder substance use disorders, American Indian communities, pregnant and post-partum women, and youth ages 13–17.
3) Use high quality, technology-based apps
This evidence-based app offers help just for you based on your smoking patterns, motivation to quit and quitting goals:
- quitSTART The quitSTART app is a free smartphone app that helps you quit smoking with tailored tips, inspiration, and challenges 24/7.
- Smoke Free This app takes a science-backed approach with more than 20 evidence-based techniques to help you quit smoking for good. Log your cravings and get tips for managing them, plus insights into craving patterns and graphs to monitor your overall progression. You also have the option of participating in a rigorous scientific experiment that will help more people quit smoking successfully.
4) Resources for Parents
E-cigarettes and Vaping: Resources for Parents from the Minnesota Department of Health
A Tip Sheet for Parents: Talking to your Teen about Vaping from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and DHHS.
What Families Need to Know to Protect Their Children from Vaping
Are you a parent of a young person who vapes and want to learn more? Parents can visit BecomeAnEX https://www.becomeanex.org/helping-a-child-quit-vaping/ where they can indicate that they are a parent of a young person who vapes, and access a supportive online community and a full interactive website of information about how nicotine addiction works and different approaches to quit. Register now at BecomeAnEX.org.
