Smoking is an addiction. Treat it with medicine and counseling.
- Half of your patients who smoke will die from tobacco-related diseases.
- You can help your patients quit smoking by using proven and effective treatments for nicotine addiction, including medications and smoking cessation counseling.
- When providers treat smokers through counseling and medication, long-term abstinence rates increase dramatically!
In 2014, 1 out of every 2 smokers said they were motivated to quit because their health care provider recommended it. See the data here Health Concerns and Provider Recommendations Motivate Smokers to Quit.
The Public Health Service Clinical Practice Guidelines recommends that providers offer both medication and counseling to best assist their patients to quit smoking.
Most private insurance companies, as well as Medicaid and Medicare, cover smoking cessation medications and counseling.
