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Frequently Asked Questions I’ve quit many times before—how can Free & Clear help me?
I’ve quit many times before—how can Free & Clear help me? Quitting for life can take many attempts. Each one brings you closer to your goal of being free of tobacco. A Free & Clear Quit Coach can help you explore and understand what’s worked for you before and use that information to design a personalized quit plan. Free & Clear’s self management materials guide you through each step of the process, and help you address nicotine cravings with coping skills and medications. Plus, you have unlimited toll-free telephone access to a Quit Coach throughout the program. What if I start using tobacco again while I’m enrolled in the program? The Quit Coaches are available by phone whenever you need them. Just as they helped you quit initially, they are there to help you get back on track if you start using tobacco again. What about nicotine replacement products such as the patch or gum? Your Quit Coach can help you decide if one of these products will work for you. You’ll work with the coach to create a plan for quitting, which may include helpful medications such as the patch, gum* or bupropion**. Research has shown that these products are much more effective when used in conjunction with behavior counseling. Can I start this program immediately? Yes. People move through a process of change when they quit successfully, and it’s important not to rush through this process. Preparing to quit is vital to your success. It includes learning what to expect physically and emotionally, making a plan for handling stressful situations, and practicing techniques that will help you quit. The Quit Coaches will help you prepare appropriately. The calls from your Quit Coach usually take 10–20 minutes, with the exception of the first call, which usually takes 25–30 minutes. During the first call the coach reviews your tobacco use history, and helps you develop a quit plan, including a recommendation on type, dose and duration of medication if appropriate. If you’re not quite ready to quit yet, your coach will work with you to help get you closer to making that decision. And you can always call Free & Clear’s toll-free number if you want additional support between your scheduled calls. What training do your Quit Coaches receive? The Quit Coaches are professionals with a wide-range of educational backgrounds, including psychology, sociology, community health, counseling and social work. Each coach receives comprehensive training, provided by expert cessation training staff. Topics covered include all phases of nicotine dependence, assessing readiness to quit tobacco, assessment for and dosing of nicotine replacement therapy and bupropion, counseling techniques, proven quitting strategies and customer service skills. The training protocol has been developed based on the most reliable and current tobacco cessation science. All coaches receive comprehensive training in the use of motivational interviewing, brief solution-focused therapy techniques, and cognitive behavioral approaches to treating tobacco dependence. I’ve been smoking for many years. Will stopping now really improve my health? It’s no secret that smoking is bad for your health – even if you smoke low-tar and low-nicotine cigarettes. In fact, smoking harms nearly every organ of your body and causes a long list of diseases including cancer, heart diseases and lung diseases. It even harms the health of unborn babies. Some people feel they have smoked too long to benefit from quitting. Others feel they haven’t smoked enough to be at risk. No matter how long you have smoked, you will be healthier starting the minute that you quit. If your last cigarette was: These are some of the changes you may experience:
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
* There is no cost to the employee for the patch or gum. |
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