The DeKalb County Board of Health Expands Free Nicotine Replacement Therapy Treatment Support to Medicaid and Uninsured Adults

Decatur – Do you smoke cigarettes or chew tobacco? Have you thought about quitting,
or tried to quit? The good news is that among current adult smokers in the United States,
approximately 70 percent report that they want to quit completely and have attempted to
quit. In DeKalb County, two out of every five deaths are tobacco related.

To improve the health of DeKalb families, free tobacco cessation medication support is
being offered. The DeKalb County Board of Health is excited about intensifying efforts
to support Georgia families. The Board of Health now offers free Nicotine Replacement
Therapy support administered through the Georgia Tobacco Quit Line at 1-877-270-
STOP to uninsured adult callers living in DeKalb County. Uninsured adults ages 18 and
older are eligible to obtain free nicotine patches or gum to assist with tobacco use
cessation.

Regardless of insurance status, the Georgia Tobacco Quit Line provides free and
confidential, evidence-based professional counseling tailored for tobacco users ages 13
and older including pregnant women. Georgia adults who use tobacco are also
encouraged to speak to their physician, pharmacist or nurse about safe and effective
treatment options to assist with tobacco use cessation.
The best time to quit is now. “Research indicates that most smokers make several
attempts before they can successfully quit and resist the nicotine addiction,” said Dr.
Kimberly Redding, director of Georgia’s Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Programs.

The short- and long-term health benefits of tobacco use cessation significantly outweigh
the deadly health risks due to tobacco use. For every person who dies from tobacco use,
another 20 suffer with at least one serious tobacco-related illness. The toll of tobacco use
impacts Georgia children, families, communities and the economy. In Georgia, one out of
every six deaths or more than 10,300 adults die each year due to tobacco-related diseases.

Tobacco use cessation lowers the risk for lung and other types of cancer. In addition, it
reduces the risk for developing severe respiratory conditions such as chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease, one of the leading causes of death nationwide.
For more information about nicotine replacement therapy, contact the DeKalb County
Board of Health or the Georgia Tobacco Quit Line at 1-877-270-STOP (7867).

About the Georgia Tobacco Quit Line

The Georgia Tobacco Quit Line is a core public health service funded by the Tobacco
Master Settlement Agreement. The Quit Line is administered by the Georgia Department
of Public Health through the Georgia Tobacco Use Prevention Program. Callers have the
opportunity to speak with professionals who develop an individualized plan customized
to address tobacco use cessation, withdrawal symptoms and relapse prevention. Callers
are also provided with a free “Quit” kit and self-support materials. Referring healthcare
providers may also receive customized patient/client progress or feedback reports.
For more information about other smoke-free environment efforts, please visit
https://dekalbpublichealth.com/office-of-chronic-disease-prevention/