Has trying to quit smoking put you in a rough spot? Are you not making progress? Are you sick and in need of help? Health industry advocates in New Jersey have recognized this problem for many of its smokers and want to help. A bill was announced that will advance and expand Medicaid coverage for cessation treatment. 14% of Medicaid recipients in New Jersey are smokers, and the state believes this intervention will help prevent smoking-related illnesses and deaths.
Why New Jersey Wants the Change
Cessation treatment is the process of discontinuing tobacco use. What’s stopping most smokers from quitting is the addicting effect of nicotine, which keeps the mind and body fixated on the continuous satisfaction of cravings. With smoking being a well-known health hazard, it’s easy to imagine the strain American smokers put on the healthcare system–strain that is completely preventable. Assembly Health Committee Chairman, Herb Conaway, states, “If we get people to stop, [hospital] admissions for emphysema and heart disease, heart attacks, and the like will be lessened, and that certainly will save costs.” So, not only will state-supported cessation treatments help citizens reclaim their lives, but it will lessen healthcare expenses across the board.
With New Jersey not only pushing cessation, but trying to ban smoking on beaches, it’s easy to see that they are serious about their anti-smoking initiatives.
Tips for Quitting
Some of the most commonly helpful quitting tips are…
- Having a support group. Whether its family or friends or even an online group chat, it’s important to have people to turn to when quitting feels most difficult.
- Experimenting with nicotine replacement therapy. Products like nicotine gum, lozenges, and patches have all been shown to increase your chances of successfully quitting.
- Considering prescription drugs. There are prescriptions your doctor can give you that can help mitigate the strength of cravings.
- Avoiding your triggers. It’s vital to avoid places like bars, lounges, restaurants, and other establishments that promote smoking. If you find yourself walking behind a smoker on the street or needing to enter a building that a smoker is standing in front of, quickly step away and reevaluate.
- Finding a replacement stimulus. If a craving hits hard, it’s important to channel that anxious energy into something else. Talking a walk, chewing gum, texting a friend, or even doing a short burst of physical activity can help re-write neural pathways and dampen cravings.
Treatment Success Rate
Cessation treatments are successful, as evidenced by the following rates:
- Self-Help: Quit Rate 9-12%
- Counseling: Quit Rate13-17%
- Bupropion SR (Zyban): Quit Rate 24%
- Nicotine Replacement Therapy: Quit Rate 19-26%
- Varenicline (Chantix): Quit Rate 33%
- Medication Combinations: Quit Rate 26-36%
- Counseling and Medication Combinations: Quit Rate 26-32%
With many Americans trying to quit, the expansion of Medicaid can be a cost-effective solution for millions. If you struggle with quitting, talk to your doctor about solutions and cessation treatments that may help you.