Quitting Tobacco Use
Referral Resources
The NYS Smoker's Quitline:1-866-NY-QUITS (697-8487). They provide counseling over the phone and most people are also able to get free nicotine replacement therapy, such as the patch or gum.
Online Resources
SmokefreeTXT: A text messaging service created by the National Cancer Institute to give 24/7 encouragement, advice, and tips to help people quit smoking. To sign up text the word QUITto IQUIT (47848) from your mobile phone. You’ll be prompted to answer a few questions, and you’ll start receiving messages. There is no fee for this service. However, message and data rates may apply.
The Quit For Life American Cancer Society app: This is a free smart phone application for the iPhone and Android.
Other options:
- Medicaid now covers all 7 of the first line medications used quitting, even those that are over the counter. Talk with a medical provider, such as a doctor. Many insurances cover nicotine replacement or other medications to help with quitting.
- Behavioral or mental health professionals can provide counseling.
Support Groups for Quitting Tobacco Use
The Butt Stops Here
The Butt Stops Here program is a support group for quitting. Most people are eligible for the patch or gum through this program. For more information: http://healthprograms.org/quit-now/
- To register for the Butt Stops Here program at St. Peter's Hospital Cancer Care Center, call Anne Lawton at (518) 525-1827
St. Peter's Hospital Cancer Care Center
317 South Manning Blvd., Suite 100,
Albany, NY 12208 - To register for the Butt Stops Here program at St. Mary's Hospital, call Therese O’Callaghan at (518) 268-6442
St. Mary's Hospital
1300 Massachusetts Ave.
Troy, NY 12180 - Ellis Medicine offers a Butt Stops Here group. Register at www.ellismedicine.org/smokingor call Kathy at (518) 831-6957 for more information.
- The Courage to Quit program is a free group that is offered periodically. This is a faith-based group that uses parts of the Butt Stops Here and sessions are led by a mission staff member. It includes materials for quitting and two weeks of patches or gum. No registration is required, call (518) 459-2550 for the group’s schedule. There are 2 locations:
- Capital City Rescue Mission
(259 So. Pearl St. Albany
Thursdays at 7:30-8:30 pm; and - City Mission of Schenectady
425 Hamilton Street Schenectady
Mondays at 6:30-7:30 pm
- Quit for Life is a cessation program at the Glens Falls Hospital's CR Wood Cancer Center Library. To register or for more information call Paul Miller at 926-6629.
- Another program is Nicotine Anonymous. It is free. It meets Thursdays at 7:30pm at the Bethany Reformed Church. The address is 760 New Scotland Ave Albany, NY 12208. If you'd like more information their number is (518) 368-6210. The website for all of Nicotine Anonymous is www.nicotine-anonymous.org.