Going Smokefree in 2019: 3 Free Resources Available to Help Chicagoans Quit

Today, the American Lung Association in Greater Chicago announced three free resources to help Chicagoans who are ready to quit using tobacco as a part of their New Year’s resolution.

According to the Lung Association’s 2018 State of Tobacco Control report, almost 16 percent of adults smoke in Illinois, which is attributed to 18,280 deaths per year in the state. Unfortunately, not everyone has benefited equally from tobacco control efforts, and as a result the smoking rate is much higher for lower income and some minority communities. In fact, 33.6 percent of adults living in public housing smoke and more than 20 percent of African-American adults report that they currently use tobacco.

“While the smoking rate is decreasing in our state, not all communities are seeing the same progress and lifesaving benefits of quitting smoking,” said Kristen Young, executive director for the Lung Association. “That’s why we offer special programs throughout the city to help people quit. The New Year is the perfect time for people to commit to a smokefree life and we are here to help.”

The Lung Association offers several free programs and resources to help Chicagoans quit smoking:

1. Smoking Cessation Initiative: Through the Smoking Cessation for Low Income Housing Residents Initiative, the Lung Association works with Public Housing Agencies and other local partners to provide free resources for people who are ready to quit. The residents are given free access to the Freedom From Smoking program, a proven-effective smoking cessation program that has helped hundreds of thousands of people quit tobacco, and information about the importance of lung cancer screening. This program is funded by the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation. For more information, call 1-800-LUNGUSA.
2. Chicago Urban League Partnership: The Lung Association and Chicago Urban League partnered to offer free smoking cessation services to Chicago’s African-American community. Funded through a $1 million grant from the CVS Health Foundation, this partnership serves those who face a disproportionate burden of tobacco use and tobacco-related illness by giving access to the Freedom From Smoking program. Participants can complete the program online, over the phone or by attending in-person groups. To learn more and sign up, visit our website.
3. Illinois Tobacco Quitline: The Illinois Tobacco Quitline is a free telephonic tobacco cessation resource staffed by Certified Tobacco Cessation Specialists, some of which are also respiratory therapists, registered nurses and even pharmacists. The Tobacco Quitline counselors can help you on your path to quit smoking. Along with counseling, the Illinois Tobacco Quitline offers up to six weeks of free nicotine replacement therapy (such as nicotine patches) to people who are medically eligible. Resources are available online at QuitYes.org or over the phone at 1-866-Quit-Yes.

“Nicotine in cigarettes and e-cigarettes are highly addictive, which is part of why it can be so tough to quit smoking. On average, it takes a tobacco user eight to 11 quit attempts before they are smokefree,” said Young. “This is why it is so important to turn to proven methods and expert resources to help you quit smoking for good.”