Break the smoking habit for good

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Katherine Holt
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
MacDill AFB, Fla --  Smokers who want to break the smoking habit may benefit from programs offered by the MacDill Health and Wellness Center. The HAWC offers Tobacco Cessation classes, a "Ready, Set, Stop" audio program available for checkout, an interactive HAWC website and SmokeSignals -an electronic device that facilitates cessation through tapering. 

The classes and programs are open to active duty, dependents, National Guard, reservists, retired military personnel and DOD Civilians. Personnel can register for the classes by calling the HAWC at 828-4739 or by stopping by the office. 

The programs provided by the HAWC aren't the only sources to kick the habit. 

"In addition to the programs provided by the HAWC, we have recently jumped on board with the SAMMC Quit Line Research Study- offering yet another mode for tobacco cessation," said Mrs. Aaron Craig, HAWC Tobacco Cessation Coordinator. 

The SAMMC (San Antonio Military Medical Center) Smoking Quit Line is a new program conducted at Wilford Hall Medical Center on Lackland AFB. There are no classes to attend, because all of the smoking cessation counseling is over the telephone. 

The research study is open to active duty members, reservists, retirees and military dependents. Participation can take place from anywhere by calling a toll-free quit line number. Free nicotine patches are mailed to each participant directly to their mailing addresses.

"The SAMMC Quitline Research Study serves as an additional option to individuals for whom the internet, classes, SmokeSignals, and/or audio programs are not preferred or as easily accessible," said Mrs. Craig.

The study will offer two types of Quit lines. One is called Counselor Initiated, where the counselor will schedule an appointment with the participant and call them for their counseling session. The other is named Self Paced, where the individual participant calls the quit line for each of their counseling sessions. 

Enrollment for the program is currently open. For more information, call 1-877-726-6211 or visit www.sammcquitline.org. 

(Additional reporting done by Karen Leroy, Wilford Hall Medical Center research leader.)