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Up to 3 months of free nicotine gum offered through New York State Smokers' Quitline from Ro

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Fri, Jul 17th 2020 11:00 am

Call 1-866-NY-QUITS; time-limited offer

The New York State Smokers' Quitline is offering up to three months of free nicotine gum while supplies last. Smokers and vapers can apply by calling 1-866-NY-QUITS (1-866-697-8487) or visiting nysmokefree.com. The Quitline asks everyone to spread the word to family and friends about this time-limited offer, made possible thanks to a donation from Ro, a U.S. telehealth company headquartered in Manhattan.

Nicotine gum is one of seven FDA-approved nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products to treat nicotine dependence and increase the chance for success in quitting. The Quitline also provides one-on-one coaching from specially trained quit coaches, which further supports the quit process.

"We strongly encourage all those who hear about this offer to spread the word to family and friends who smoke or vape," said Paula Celestino, director of client relations and outreach for the Quitline, based at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo. "Likewise, we ask health care organizations and other groups to tell the tobacco-using patients they serve about the offer and to pass the information on to their partners and affiliates. We know most tobacco users want to quit – so the more people who know about the offer, the more people we can help."

Nicotine gum eliminates short-term cravings of cigarettes and each piece typically lasts 20 to 30 minutes. Unlike traditional chewing gum, nicotine gum works when chewed only a few times and then parked along the inside of the mouth by the cheek. When combined with a longer-term FDA-approved NRT such as the nicotine patch, the resulting effect – called nicotine combination therapy – can double the odds of a smoker successfully quitting.

"Our mission at Ro is to give patients access to affordable, high-quality health care," said Dr. Melynda Barnes, senior vice president of medical affairs and research for Ro. "By partnering with the New York State Smokers' Quitline to provide free nicotine gum, our goal is to help thousands of fellow New Yorkers quit smoking and lead healthier lives."

Quit coaches are available seven days a week beginning at 9 a.m. at 1-866-NY-QUITS (1-866-697-8487). Nearly all Quitline participants are eligible to receive NRT, coaching and self-help materials. The Quitline's quit coaches work with all types of traditional tobacco and vape-product users by developing personalized quit-plans to navigate the behavioral and psychological aspects of nicotine dependence. Health care professionals can also connect to the Quitline's patient referral program as a supplement to visits and follow-ups with their nicotine-dependent patients. Additional resources are available at nysmokefree.com, the Quitline's website.

The New York State Smokers' Quitline is a service of the New York State Department of Health and based at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. It is one of the first and busiest state quitlines in the nation, and has responded to nearly 3 million calls since it began operating in 2000. The Quitline encourages nicotine users to talk with their health care professionals and access available Medicaid or health insurance benefits for stop-smoking medications. All New York residents can call 1-866-NY-QUITS (1-866-697-8487) for coaching and resources, free of charge, seven days a week beginning at 9 a.m. Visit www.nysmokefree.com for more information.

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