What does the TCC offer?
The TCC offers the newest and best treatments for people who use tobacco to help them quit smoking. In addition to one-on-one counseling, people who want to quit may receive a prescription for medication.
Who is the Tobacco Cessation Clinic for?
The TCC is for any adult who uses tobacco or nicotine products and wants help to stop using them.
Can non-Denver Health patients participate in the Tobacco Cessation Clinic?
The TCC is available for adults who receive medical care at Denver Health. People who are interested in a TCC visit must have a primary care provider at Denver Health.
How can I make an appointment with the TCC?
- Call the appointment center: (303) 436-4949.
- Schedule via MyChart.
- Ask your health care provider to refer you to the TCC.
How much will the TCC cost?
If you have Denver Health Medicaid, Denver Health Medicare, Denver Health Medical Plans, and Colorado Medicaid, there is no cost for a TCC visit, and most medications are free or have a small copay. For other insurance plans, you should talk to your insurance provider because the copay amounts may differ.
How long will I have to wait before I have a visit with the TCC?
The goal is for you to have a visit within two weeks of asking for one.
What are the health benefits of quitting?
Quitting smoking has many health benefits, and your health can improve very soon after quitting. While there are benefits of quitting earlier in life rather than later, it is never too late to benefit from quitting, no matter how old you are.
WITHIN…
- 20 MINUTES blood pressure returns to baseline
- 12 HOURS oxygen levels return to normal; carbon monoxide drops significantly
- 48 HOURS sense of smell and taste begin to return to normal
- 72 HOURS breathing is easier and lung function increases
- 1-9 MONTHS chronic cough decreases; breathing improves, overall energy levels increase.
- 1 YEAR the risk of heart disease, stroke, and heart attack is less than half of that of a smoker.
- 10 years there is a lowered risk of some cancers
- 15 YEARS the risk of heart disease is equal to someone who has never smoked.
What are the negative health effects of smoking?
Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the US.
Smoking harms almost every part of the body. People who use tobacco have a shorter life expectancy and are more likely to have many serious health problems. These include:
More respiratory infections, such as colds and pneumonia.
- Cancer.
- Heart disease.
- Stroke.
- Chronic respiratory diseases.
- Delayed wound healing and increased risk of complications during surgery.
- Problems with reproduction, pregnancy, and childbirth, such as infertility, early (premature) births, stillbirths, and birth defects.
What is in tobacco smoke?
There are more than 7,000 chemicals in tobacco smoke including ammonia, benzene, butane, hydrogen cyanide, and toluene. Many of the chemicals in the smoke are toxic and can cause cancer.
Is secondhand smoke harmful?
There is no safe amount of exposure to secondhand smoke. Being around secondhand smoke can lead to multiple health problems including heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer in people who don’t smoke.
Secondhand smoke exposure in children increases the risk of:
- Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
- Infections in the nose, throat, or airways (respiratory infections).
- Chronic respiratory symptoms.
What is in e-cigarettes and vapes?
The aerosol from these products can contain nicotine, cancer-causing chemicals, heavy metals, flavorings linked to a serious lung disease, harmful ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs.
How long does nicotine withdrawal usually last?
For most people, the worst symptoms of withdrawal last a few days to a few weeks. Within the first 24 hours of quitting smoking, you may start to feel withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms are usually most noticeable 2-3 days after quitting, but they usually do not last for more than 2-3 weeks. You may experience these symptoms: mood swings, restlessness, irritability, difficulty concentrating, dizziness, nausea, coughing, sore throat.
Be especially aware of things that might make you want to smoke during this time. Have a distraction or backup plan ready in case you have a craving.
If I quit smoking, how much money will I save?
In Denver, a pack of cigarettes costs about $7.50. To find out how much you can save by quitting, look at the chart below. First find the number of packs you smoke per day, then follow that row to see how much money quitting will save you over the years. You can also use the Smoking Calculator on the Colorado QuitLine website.
How do I get ready to quit?
When you decide to quit smoking, create a plan to help you succeed. Before you quit:
- Pick a date to quit. Set a date within the next 2 weeks to give you time to prepare.
- Write down the reasons why you are quitting. Keep this list in places where you will see it often.
- Tell your family, friends, and co-workers that you are quitting. Support from your loved ones can make quitting easier.
- Talk with your health care provider about your options for quitting smoking.
- Identify people, places, things, and activities that make you want to smoke (triggers). Avoid them.
What first steps can I take to quit smoking?
- Throw away all cigarettes at home, at work, and in your car.
- Throw away smoking accessories, such as ashtrays and lighters.
- Clean your car. Make sure to empty the ashtray.
- Clean your home, including curtains and carpets.
What strategies can I use to quit smoking?
Talk with your health care provider about combining strategies, such as taking medicines while you are also receiving in-person counseling. Using these two strategies together makes you more likely to succeed in quitting than if you used either strategy on its own.
- One-on-one counseling with a medical provider.
- Online chats with a counselor.
- Telephone quitlines.
- Printed self-help materials.
- Support groups or group counseling.
- Text messaging programs.
- Mobile phone apps or applications. Use apps that can help you stick to your quit plan by providing reminders, tips, and encouragement. There are many free apps for mobile devices as well as websites.
What things can I do to make it easier to quit?
- Reach out to your family and friends for support and encouragement.
- Ask people who smoke to avoid smoking around you.
- Avoid places that trigger you to smoke, such as bars, parties, or smoke-break areas at work.
- Spend time with people who do not smoke.
- Find ways to manage stress. Wanting to smoke may cause stress, and stress can make you want to smoke. Relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, and yoga may help.
How can I manage cravings?
Come up with a plan for how to deal with your cravings. The plan should include the following:
- A definition of the specific situation you want to deal with.
- An alternative action you will take.
- A clear idea for how this action will help.
- The name of someone who might help you with this.
Cravings usually last for 5–10 minutes. Consider taking the following actions to help you with your plan to deal with cravings:
- Keep your mouth busy.
- Chew sugar-free gum.
- Suck on hard candies or a straw.
- Brush your teeth.
- Keep your hands and body busy.
- Change to a different activity right away.
- Squeeze or play with a ball.
- Do an activity or a hobby, such as making bead jewelry, practicing needlepoint, or working with wood.
- Mix up your normal routine.
- Take a short exercise break. Go for a quick walk or run up and down stairs.
Quitting smoking can be very challenging. Do not get discouraged if you are not successful the first time. Some people need to make many attempts to quit before they achieve long-term success. Do your best to stick to your quit plan and talk with your health care provider if you have any questions or concerns.
Colorado QuitLine: coquitline.org - 1-800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669)
- Offers free one-on-one virtual counseling and free nicotine replacement therapy.
SmokeFree: smokefree.gov - Text “QUIT” to 47848
- Offers various resources and support to help people quit smoking, such as texting programs, apps, social media, and articles. Learn how to create your quit plan, deal with cravings, manage stress, and use nicotine replacement therapies.
- This free text messaging program offers 24/7 encouragement, advice, and tips to help smokers quit smoking and stay quit.
Baby & Me Tobacco Free Program: babyandmetobaccofree.org - 720-630-1060
- Provides free, comprehensive support for pregnant individuals trying to quit tobacco/nicotine use during pregnancy and remain tobacco-free after giving birth.
- Participants receive vouchers for free diapers and baby wipes.
My Life My Quit: mylifemyquit.com - 855-891-9989 - Text “Start My Quit” to 36072
- Offers an online, self-guided program and one-on-one coaching through live text messaging, online chat, or calling.
Tobacco Free Colorado: tobaccofreeco.org
- Offers education and resources for preventing and quitting tobacco use.
Tips from Former Smokers: cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips
- Provides links to free quit-smoking resources for adults and uses methods to reduce health differences and promote health equity by making smoking cessation messages more accessible, understandable, and appealing to diverse groups.
Nicotine Anonymous: nicotine-anonymous.org
- Provides information about support groups helping people live nicotine-free lives.
