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Let's quit smoking together
By AJ Murphy
Reap the benefits of being smoke-free
Brighter smile. Clearer skin. Decreased heart risks. Lower cholesterol. These are just a few of the many benefits of being smoke-free. Quitting may seem hard. But stay positive. Think of all the good things that come with it.
Maybe you or someone you know already tried to quit but didn’t have much luck. That’s OK. Everyone’s quit journey is different.
Knowing the risks of e-cigarettes and vaping
Recently, there’s been a rise in people turning to e-cigarettes and vaping. Some believe that it’s a safe way to transition from quitting cigarettes to not smoking at all. It’s important to know that there’s nicotine in traditional cigarettes as well as e-cigarettes. It’s highly addictive. And e-cigarettes haven’t been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a smoking cessation device.1
There are still many things that we don’t know about vaping. It’s still unknown what chemicals are used in the vapor and how they affect your health. That’s why it’s important to go to your family, friends or care team for support.
We’ve got your back
Let’s quit smoking together. We cover counseling services to help you quit smoking. Just call Member Services for help finding a case manager.
Sometimes, you need a little extra help. You can get medication to help you quit smoking at no extra cost, including:
- Bupropion and bupropion SR
- Chantix® (varenicline)
- Nicotine gum, lozenges and patches, which you can get over the counter
Call your primary care physician (PCP) if you have any questions or need a prescription.
Stay positive — you’ve got this
It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve tried to quit. Don’t get discouraged. There’s no better time than now to try again. You have a lot of great support systems. On top of covered counseling and medication, we’ve gathered these resources to help you quit smoking:
- American Cancer Society's guide to quitting smoking
- The Great American Smokeout® event
- Find help to quit smoking online from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669)
1Blaha MJ. 5 vaping facts you need to know. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Accessed February 6, 2019.
About the author
AJ Murphy is an evocative young writer who grew up in Boston's Charlestown neighborhood. AJ began his writing career at Alaska Ice Rinks Inc. in Anchorage, AK, where he also drove a Zamboni and took care of outdoor hockey rinks.
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