Quitting tobacco use is one of the best things you can
do for your health. You can double or triple your chances for success if
you combine quit counseling with one or more FDA-approved quit
medications.
QuitlineNC: 1-800-QUIT-NOW
QuitlineNC is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to walk you through your quit journey. Register online or by calling
1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) and a quit coach will create an individualized quit plan. Nicotine replacement therapy (i.e. nicotine patch + gum/lozenge) can be mailed to the home of eligible callers.
See chart below for current services provided by
QuitlineNC.
Insurance Type and Protocol Categories
|
Scheduled Calls with Quit Coach (free)
|
Medication (free)
|
Uninsured
| 4 Calls
| 8 weeks nicotine patches + gum/lozenge
|
Medicaid
| 4 Calls
| 2-week starter kit of patches, plus a standing order for your local pharmacy to provide additional patches covered by NC Medicaid.
|
Medicare
| 4 calls
| 2-week starter kit of patches
|
BCBS of NC
| 4 Calls
| 12 weeks of nicotine patches + gum/lozenge
|
Other private insurance
| 1 Call
| No medication (most insurance plans cover FDA-approved quit medications)
|
Regardless of Insurance:
|
| |
Behavioral Health Protocol (presence of anxiety, depression, bi-polar or other mental health condition)
| 7 Calls
| 12 weeks of nicotine patches + gum/lozenge
|
Planning to be pregnant, pregnant, 12 months after delivery
| 10 Calls
| weeks nicotine gum or lozenge with medical override (permission from your health provider)
|
Under 18 years of age
| 5 Calls
| No Medication
|
COVID-19: Quitting Resources
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued
guidelines saying people who smoke and vape are at higher risk for more severe complications and hospitalization if they get COVID-19. Here are a variety of COVID-19 communications resources to help encourage quitting.
Other Resources
Tobacco-Free Mecklenburg Quit Guide
QuitlineNC brochure: English | Spanish
How to use nicotine replacement therapy: English |Spanish
You Quit Two Quit: Pregnant or planning a pregnancy? Learn more about support available for women trying to quit smoking or vaping.
Advice from the U.S. Surgeon General | CDC: What you need to know about quitting smoking.
Which Quit Smoking Medicine is Right for You? | CDC: Determine which medicines might be the best for you to use.
How to Use Quit Smoking Medicines | CDC: Information about how to use it, and tips for using it successfully.
7 Common Withdrawal Symptoms and What You Can Do About Them | CDC
Quit and Stay Quit Monday: A tool designed to encourage tobacco users to quit or
recommit to quitting every Monday.
The most recent National Youth Tobacco Survey showed e-cigarette
use was up 78% among high school students and 48% among middle schoolers in just one year. In addition, the frequency of use among current high school e-cigarette users surged with nearly 28% vaping more than 20 times per month.
You can get help quitting by texting DITCHVAPE to 88709.
Click here for more information.
N.C. Tobacco Treatment Standard of Care
Health professionals can have a tremendous impact on helping patients to quit tobacco use.
Click here to learn best practice protocols.
To learn more about the Duke-UNC Tobacco Treatment Specialist (TTS) training, click here.
To request a presentation on quitting tobacco use, best practice strategies for tobacco treatment or technical assistance for your health care practice, call Kim Bayha, CTTS, Tobacco Control Program Manager at 980-314-9064 or email Kimberly.Bayha@MeckNC.gov.
County services have returned to their normal schedule unless noted otherwise. Read the latest service availability update.