Health Promotion & Chronic Disease Prevention
443-523-1760

Nicotine Addiction

Stop Smoking Program		Tobacco/Cancer Coalition Brochure -Be a part of a movement that mobilizes the residents of Somerset County towards health
		Maryland Tobacco Quitline 1-800-QUIT-NOW
		World No Tobacco Month

Nicotine Addiction
The prospect of doing without tobacco and going through nicotine withdrawal is certainly one of the most difficult changes that a person can make. That’s because nicotine is as, if not more, addicting than cocaine or heroin! The impact that tobacco addiction has on individuals and our society are staggering:

• Each year cigarettes kill more Americans than AIDS, alcohol, car accidents, fires, illegal drugs, murders, and suicides combined
• Smoking-related diseases claim the lives of 430,700 Americans every year
• An estimated 62,000 coronary heart disease deaths occur annually among nonsmokers exposed to second hand smoke

The Somerset County Health Department wants to help you in your efforts to become smoke free. Call us today at 443-523-1760 for more information about our stop smoking program.

Requirements for Participation in the Somerset County Health Dept’s. Stop Smoking Program

Participants in individual counseling or group class must:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Live or work in Somerset County
• Get the Health Department’s prescription/medical clearance form completed by their health care provider, which states that individuals may participate in the stop smoking program and that they may use the specified stop smoking medication
• Attend the individual counseling or group class sessions
• Schedule a registration appointment with Cara Rozaieski (443-523-1729) to complete paperwork and to become oriented to the program
• Bring to appointment:
• Prescription insurance card (if have one)
• List of medications (name of drug, amount, reason for taking)
• List of any allergies

Individual Counseling

These FREE 10-week one-on-one counseling sessions are offered on a limited basis. Sessions are held at our Westover location and are scheduled at a time agreed upon by the participant and the coordinator.

Topics cover issues important to the individual client such as addiction and recovery, stress and coping, weight management, positive thinking, health consequences, financial impact, second hand smoke, and preventing relapse.

Medications used during counseling are the nicotine replacement patch or the nicotine blocker Chantix.

Call 443-523-1760 to find out about availability.

Group Class

This FREE 10-week class is designed to be fun, supportive, educational, and non-judgmental.  Activities include peer support and education. Topics cover addiction and recovery, stress and coping, weight management, positive thinking, health consequences, financial impact, second hand smoke, and preventing relapse.

The medications provided are the nicotine replacement patch or the nicotine blocker Chantix.

Classes are held in our Westover location and usually begin in February, April, and October; call 443-523-1760 to find out when the next class is. Participants must be registered prior to start of class. Class will not be held if a minimum number of participants are not registered.

 Quitline

The Maryland Tobacco Quitline is a FREE service for Marylanders provided by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. This telephone-based counseling and support program consists of four calls from a trained Quit Coach over 3—5 weeks. Participants can also call to speak to a Quit Coach during Quitline hours. Quit Coaches provide quitting tips and techniques, help participants create a personalized quit plan, and provide participants with a free 4-week supply of nicotine replacement patches or nicotine gum (while supplies last).

Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW(1-800-784-8669) seven days a week, 8:00 a.m. to midnight for more information.