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This is the Year to Succeed — NJ Quitcenters Help Break the Cycle of Smoking Addiction
Mercer Co. Tobacco Dependence Program a Resource for Those Who Want to Quit
Each day, people across the planet resolve to lead a healthier lifestyle. Dieting, exercise and smoking cessation are typically the top three items on everyone’s list of personal goals, yet without the proper support they too often go unrealized. The reasons for quitting are as varied as the smokers themselves. Whether it is the cost of maintaining the habit, the health toll exacted from smoking, or the growing backlash in society against smokers, it is always a perfect time to quit.
In New Jersey, approximately 1.15 million residents – or 17 percent of adults – smoke. Of that number, nearly 76 percent want to quit, yet without seeking help only a little better than 10 percent succeed. To help the odds of success, the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services offers a variety of programs, part of its Comprehensive Tobacco Control Program, which works to significantly reduce tobacco use among residents.
New Jersey Quitcenters are smoking cessation clinics that offer a customized, face-to-face approach to quitting. The Quitcenter treatment model – designed by researchers at the UMDNJ-School of Public Health – combines intensive individual or group counseling, with the supervised use of nicotine patches, gum and inhalers. The result for clients is a quit rate that is more than double the abstinence rate for quitters with no treatment, and roughly 50 percent greater than those seeking group or individual counseling alone.
Currently there are seven centers located conveniently across the state – including the in Camden, New Brunswick, Newark/Union City, Somerville, Trenton, Long Branch/Toms River, and Somers Point. Each center provides services on a sliding fee scale according to income. An additional benefit for Quitcenter clients is that they can purchase over-the-counter nicotine replacement therapy products at a reduced cost.
Even smokers who have been unsuccessful in the past have found support at New Jersey Quitcenters. The vast majority of clients – over 89 percent – have made at least one prior attempt, with the average number of quit attempts being six. More than 18 percent made between 6 and 20 previous attempts at quitting. Many Quitcenter clients have also been long-term smokers – the average having smoked for 25 years, consuming a pack or more per day. Regardless of the length of time or amount smoked, clinical treatment, coupled with support from family and friends can achieve a better result.
The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services offers a comprehensive menu of three services including NJ Quitline and NJ QuitNet in addition to the Quitcenters.
NJ Quitline is a free, telephone-based counseling and referral service, available six days a week in 26 different languages. Counselors trained by the American Cancer Society work with clients to develop an individualized treatment plan, including ongoing support and follow-up. More than 30 percent of registered NJ Quitline users report being smoke free after six months.
NJ QuitNet is a free, online information, counseling and referral service that offers a variety of resources to help people break the control of nicotine. NJ QuitNet users have access to peer support groups and trained counselors. This service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Online chat rooms with others also quitting provide real-time support when cravings are at their peak. Tens of thousands of New Jersey smokers log onto NJ QuitNet every year to get the information and support they need to break the smoking habit.
NJ QuitNet is on the web at www.nj.quitnet.com. NJ Quitline can be reached by calling 1-866-NJ-STOPS.
In Mercer County, contact the Mercer County Tobacco Dependence program, with locations in downtown Trenton (call 609-396-7707), Capital Health Care System (call 609-394-4340), and Mercerville (call 609-584-5900). To locate NJ Quitcenter in other areas call NJ Quitline or visit the NJ QuitNet site at http://nj.quitnet.com/library/quit-centers.jtml.
