Tobacco Cessation

Make Smoking History

Who: People with Nicotine Addiction

What: Tobacco Treatment Program

When: Monday - Friday

Where: Greater New Bedford Community Health Center, Inc.

Why: QUIT SMOKING

R.S.V.P.: (508) 992-6553 X122

Greater New Bedford Community Health Center, Inc.
874 Purchase Street New Bedford, MA 02740
Voice: (508) 992-6553
FAX: (508) 999-54575

Program Details| About Our Program | Benefits to Quitting
Dangers of Smoking | Quick Quit Tips |Telephone Help | Web Sites

About Our Program

The Greater New Bedford Community Health Center offers a Tobacco Treatment Program. Quit aid options include Nicoderm CQ Patch, Zyban (Wellbutrin SR), and behavioral counseling. Patients are required to attend weekly treatment sessions for eight to ten weeks.

The use of behavioral counseling alone may require longer treatment. Medication will not be provided until after the initial visit. Most insurances are accepted. If patients' Providers are located outside of the Health Center, referrals may be required. Uninsured patients are also accepted.

Program Details| About Our Program | Benefits to Quitting
Dangers of Smoking | Quick Quit Tips |Telephone Help | Web Sites

Benefits to Quitting

After 2 hours: nicotine and carbon monoxide start to clear out of your system

After 6 hours: heart rate and blood pressure decrease (may take up to one month to return back to normal)

After 12 hours: carbon monoxide exits your system, lungs work more efficiently

After 2 days: sense of taste and smell improve, your breath, hair, fingers, and teeth feel cleaner

Within 2 months: energy increase, breathing improves, circulation to hands and feet improves

Within 3 months: cilia (hair-like cleaning system in your lungs) recover and remove mucous

After 1 year: lung cancer risk decreases and heart disease risk decreases to half that of smokers

Program Details| About Our Program | Benefits to Quitting
Dangers of Smoking | Quick Quit Tips |Telephone Help | Web Sites

Dangers of Smoking

• Tobacco smoke contains over 4,000 poisons and carcinogens (cancer causing agents)
• Congestion and shortness of breath
• Poor airflow
• Cardiovascular Disease
• Peripheral Vascular Disease
• COPD (Asthma, Bronchitis, Emphysema)
• Increased risk of stroke
• Premature or stillbirths, low birthweight babies in pregnant women, or infant death within the first year
• Increased premature menopause leading to the possibility of osteoporosis
• Increased impotence in men
• Premature aging

Program Details| About Our Program | Benefits to Quitting
Dangers of Smoking | Quick Quit Tips |Telephone Help | Web Sites

Quick Quit Tips

• Set a quit date, if possible get a quit buddy.
• Assess when and why you smoke.
• Change your smoking routine.
• Get rid of all your cigarettes.
• Put away your ashtrays.
• Avoid places you associate with smoking.
• When you crave a cigarette, WAIT!
• Chew sugar-free gum, practice deep-breathing exercises, or call the Quitline.
• Buy cigarettes one pack a day; the same time each day.
• Switch to a brand of cigarettes you don't like.
• Reward yourself weekly.
• Join Nicotine Anonymous or other support group.
• Remind yourself "ONE DAY AT A TIME GOES A LONG WAY"!

Program Details| About Our Program | Benefits to Quitting
Dangers of Smoking | Quick Quit Tips |Telephone Help | Web Sites

Resources

Telephone Help

The Smoker's Quitline: 1 -800-879-8678
Nicotine Anonymous: 1 -800-622-6828
Quit Tips Line: 1-800-943-8284

Web Sites

Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program:
www.trytostop.org

Nicotine Anonymous:
www.nicotine-anonymous.org
www.quitnet.org
www.about.com


Program Details| About Our Program | Benefits to Quitting
Dangers of Smoking | Quick Quit Tips |Telephone Help | Web Sites