Quitting smoking isn’t easy. On Nov. 18, you can join with other smokers to start the journey toward quitting during the American Cancer Society’s annual Great American Smokeout.
According to the American Cancer Society, “about 34 million American adults still smoke cigarettes, and smoking remains the single largest preventable cause of death and illness in the world. Smoking causes an estimated 480,000 deaths every year, or about one in five deaths.”
The COVID-19 pandemic also has posed significant risk to smokers. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tobacco users have a 40 to 50 percent increased risk of developing severe illness or death from COVID. Earlier this year, the WHO launched a “Commit to Quit” campaign for tobacco users.
If you are a current smoker or tobacco user who is interested in quitting, help is available. The University’s Comprehensive Medication Management program, available to all full- and part-time regular University faculty and staff with UPMC Health Plan coverage, provides smoking cessation guidance and resources at no-cost.
Those interested in the program can receive counseling on smoking cessation from a pharmacist and develop an action plan to help take better control of their health. Get started by emailing quit_now@pitt.edu.
In addition to the Comprehensive Medication Management program, the American Cancer Society also provides programs, resources, and support that can increase your chances of quitting smoking successfully.