Smoking Cessation

Horizon NJ Health encourages physicians to discuss smoking cessation with their patients and to equip them with the support and tools they need to succeed.  Patients that receive even brief advice from a physician to quit smoking are more likely to quit smoking than those that received no advice.*

These 5 A’s are recommended by the US Surgeon General:

  1. Ask all patients if they smoke. Make tobacco use status a vital sign.
  2. Advise those that smoke to stop. Give strong warnings about health effects.
  3. Assess readiness to quit. Refer those that are ready to NJ Quitnet.
  4. Assist in quit attempt. Prescribe pharmacotherapy if indicated – doubles quit rate.
  5. Arrange follow-up. Evaluate pharmacotherapy use/issues.

QUIT 2 WIN is a free program that offers several services that can help clients quit smoking. This program includes:

  • NJ Quitline: 1-866-NJ-STOPS or 1-866-657-8677 (TYY: 711) Clients can design a personalized program and obtain support from counselors in 26 languages. NJ Quitline is available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (except holidays) and Saturdays, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • NJ Quitnet: http://njquitline.org/ NJ Quitnet is a 24 hour, 7 day-a-week online resource with free peer support and trained counselors.
  • NJ Quitcenters: NJ Quitcenters offer clients professional, face-to-face counseling in individual or group sessions. Centers can be located through NJ Quitnet or NJ Quitline.

Tobacco cessation medications available to Horizon NJ Health members include:

  • Bupropion (Zyban)
  • Nicotine Transdermal Patches (Nicoderm)
  • Nicotine polacrilex gum (Nicorette)
  • Nicotine polacrilex lozenge (Commit)

*AHRQ, 2009 National Healthcare Disparities Report, p.76