Want to stop smoking? Welcome to the journey. On average, it takes a person eight to 10 tries to successfully quit, according to the American Lung Association.
While smoking has declined over the decades, Marion County’s adult smoking rate was 21%, over 5% of the national average, the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation reported in 2020. Marion County’s data hasn’t been updated since then, but statewide, the adult smoking rate in 2022 was 16.2%, still more than the national average.
Compassion and support are keys to quitting successfully, and several local programs are available to help people of all ages beat tobacco addiction. Each one has different costs and services. Here’s a guide to help you choose the best program that could help you or a friend or family member.
Quit Now Indiana, run by Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation, has helped Hoosiers quit cigarettes and other tobacco products for more than 15 years. They offer individualized plans, medication, therapy and other programs.
The free Indiana Tobacco Quitline, connects people to staff members who provide data-driven assessments for quitting, customized plans, advice and motivation, information about nicotine replacement therapy, a Quit Kit, and resources for cessation services offered locally or by health insurance plans.
More info: Visit their website or call 800-QUIT-NOW.
The American Lung Association (ALA) invites people to participate and track their progress in different ways: sign up for an online program, join an in-person clinical program, or call a certified counselor for live support.
The online support group forum, offered through a company called Inspire, works similar to Reddit threads. People sign up on the website and post anything related to their smoking journey. Other users can comment with advice, react or simply read through posts. Although the ALA Freedom From Smoking programs costs money, the online forum is free to join for people 13 years old or older.
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The ALA also has additional support on its website, including a telephone service and extra resources for teenagers and communities of color.
More info: Visit their website or call 800-586-4872. For the Inspire forum, click here.
Indiana University Health’s Smoking Cessation program
The program creates individualized plans for patients or students that include counseling, education, pharmacotherapy and referrals to specialists. The Centralized Tobacco Treatment Program is a free service; just ask your primary care provider for a referral.
Indiana University students can sign up for different programs through their own schools’ websites, although not all IU schools offer the same programs.
More info: Visit their website.
Aspire Quit Smoking and Vaping Program
Franciscan Health Hospital’s smoking cessation service offers individual coaching sessions and guides people through medication options. It’s designed to help people quit all tobacco products.
Worried about what smoking is doing to your health? You can take an online health risk assessment at any time, but you will need to go online to request an appointment to start the program.
Their services in Greenwood and Lafayette accept insurance plans, while other locations do not and have an out-of-pocket cost of $50. You can also visit their blog to read information such as Vaping and Teens: A Guide to the Dangers and How to Quit.Â
For more info: Visit their website.
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