Tobacco Cessation - Students

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.”   

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.

Another idea – talk to your physician or healthcare provider about options.

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) Nicotine Replacement Therapies

Many people use quit smoking medications to help reduce withdrawal feelings and cigarette cravings.  Quit smoking medications can double your chances of quitting for good.

Lower-cost nicotine replacement therapies are available for students to purchase at the Student Health Services Pharmacy.  Learn more about Nicotine Replacement Therapy.  

 

4) Quitting vaping

• My Life My Quit Free help for teens and young adults to quit vaping and other tobacco products. Text “Start my quit” to 1-855-891-9989 or call to talk with a coach who is ready to listen and cheer you on.
• This is Quitting is an anonymous, free text messaging system designed to help young people quit vaping. With a focus on people 13 to 24 years old, this quitting program sends tailored text messages with information about the reality of quitting e-cigarettes. By texting “DITCHVAPE” to 88709, users will answer a few questions about their age and usage to receive more relevant messages. They will receive one message a day with information ranging from quitting strategies to encouragement from other young people who have used the program. For more details and testimonials, check out our website.

5) Quitting Smokeless tobacco

• MyLastDip is a free Web-based intervention that is designed to help young smokeless tobacco users quit.
• Making a Plan to Quit Smokeless Tobacco, from the American Cancer Society.

6) Use high quality, technology-based apps

These evidence-based apps offer help just for you based on your smoking patterns, motivation to quit and quitting goals:

• QuitNow! Rated as one of the best apps for young adults. QuitNow! makes quitting easier by helping you focus your energy into four sections — your new ex-smoker status, 70 ex-smoker achievements to keep you motivated, a strong ex-smoker community, and your newfound health improvements. Browse frequently asked questions or ask the questions of your own.
• 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.
• quitSTART  The quitSTART app is a free smartphone app that helps you quit smoking with tailored tips, inspiration, and challenges 24/7.