Minnesota Launches New Smoking Cessation Program

The program, called “Quit Partner,” offers free one-on-one counseling by phone and online, and sends free NRT​​ (such as nicotine lozenges, gum, and patches) to help people quit nicotine.

 

Within just one week of launching, the program had already received 700 applications. Coincidentally, given the COVID-19 outbreak, the timing could not have been better. “Anxiety is high and moods are low right now, so quitting may be difficult, but improving lung health and strengthening immunity have never been more important,” said Laura Oliven, tobacco control manager at the Minnesota Department of Health.

“You can significantly increase your chances of quitting successfully. With this support, your chances of success could double.” The program lasts four weeks, and people can enroll twice a year.

 

Meanwhile, according to previous research, a clinical trial presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session together with the World Congress of Cardiology (ACC.20 / WCC) concluded that smokers who used nicotine-containing e-cigarettes while receiving counseling were more likely to quit than those who received counseling alone.

 

E-cigarettes are by far the most effective smoking cessation tool

Sadly, unlike public health authorities in the UK, the United States is still reluctant to embrace e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation tool, and therefore does not recommend using them alongside other NRT in quit programs. This is unfortunate, especially considering that studies also show the hand-to-mouth action that mimics smoking makes e-cigarettes the most effective and preferred quitting method so far.