For access to veterans benefits and resources for quitting smoking, as well as other substance-abuse problems, including alcohol, prescription medications and street drugs, click here.
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), 68% of veterans that seek healthcare through their system admitted to smoking cigarettes in their lifetime, a statistic significantly higher than the rest of the U.S. population (43%).
Veterans interested in quitting the habit, one that kills more than 480,000 Americans every year, can visit the following sites for methods and more information on how to stop safely and successfully.
VA Programs
Smoking Cessation Pharmacotherapy: Nicotine patches, gums, lozenges and other medications that are all approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Tobacco Cessation Interventions: It’s where a healthcare provider or a smoking quit line counselor offers advisement on how patients can work on the habit portion of their addiction, either in person or over the phone. According to research, a combination of pharmacotherapy and counseling gives patients the best chance at remaining abstinent from nicotine usage.
Telephone Quit Line: The number is 1-855-QUIT-VET. It’s a toll-free line that matches callers with a counselors that can not only offer emotional support, but can refer them to other healthcare providers for more intensive methods.
SmokefreeVET text messaging program: It’s a program designed to support long-term abstinence by providing a veteran with eight weeks of supportive and encouraging texts, available in both English and Spanish.
Stay Quit Coach mobile app: An interactive tool that coaches users on how to cope with intense urges to smoke. It also provides motivation through messaging, reminders and a tracking program to view progress.
Information resources and publications: Manuals, workbooks and other guides available for download that can direct and inform on solutions to quit.
Government Resources
SmokefreeVET: A comprehensive website that offers tools, resources and support — including NCI LiveHelp information specialists via online chat — to help someone become tobacco-free.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: This CDC page lists a number of resources like quit lines and “Tips From Former Smokers”, just to name a few.