Supporting people with disabilities to quit smoking

New York State Smokers' Quitline hosts free webinar with continuing educational credits May 10

Guest Editorial by the New York State Smokers' Quitline

When health care professionals administer smoking cessation assistance, they can encounter added challenges for patients with disabilities. According to the latest data of current adult smokers in New York state reported by the Department of Health, 17.4% of people with disabilities smoke, compared to 10.5% for those who do not have a disability. New York state adults who have a disability also are more than twice as likely to develop chronic conditions closely attributed to smoking, such as cardiovascular disease, COPD and diabetes.

To help health care professionals better understand specific barriers to quitting smoking and learn better techniques to assist people with disabilities, the New York State Smokers' Quitline will host an hour-long webinar at noon Wednesday, May 10, titled, "Supporting Patients with Disabilities in Becoming Tobacco-Free." Registration is free at nysmokefree.com/newsroom, and health care professionals can receive 1.0 hour of continuing education credit for a variety of disciplines.

Scott McIntosh, director of the Center for a Tobacco-Free Finger Lakes and professor in the department of public health sciences at University of Rochester Medical Center, is the webinar's featured presenter. Attendees will learn strategies to enhance patient interactions about tobacco cessation and identify tobacco dependence treatment resources to improve patient education.

Representatives from the New York State Smokers' Quitline will also briefly discuss services, explain how to use the organization's secure patient referral program, and highlight accessibility for participants with disabilities. People with disabilities represent one of five "priority populations" identified by the New York State Smokers' Quitline for additional free services, including expanded sessions with the Quitline's tobacco treatment specialists and increased shipments of nicotine replacement therapy medications per year.

The team at the New York State Smokers' Quitline remains ready to support anyone seeking assistance to achieve freedom from nicotine addiction and overcome use of commercial tobacco and/or vape products. To connect to the Quitline, New York state residents can call 1-866-NY-QUITS (1-866-697-8487), text QUITNOW to 333888 and visit nysmokefree.com.

About the New York State Smokers' Quitline

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 such practices in the nation, responding to nearly 3 million calls since it began operating in 2000. The Quitline encourages commercial tobacco and vape product users to talk with their health care professionals and access available Medicaid or health insurance benefits for medication support.

About Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center

Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center is a community united by the drive to eliminate cancer's grip on humanity by unlocking its secrets through personalized approaches and unleashing the healing power of hope. Founded by Dr. Roswell Park in 1898, it is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in upstate New York. Learn more at www.roswellpark.org, or contact us at 1-800-ROSWELL (1-800-767-9355) or [email protected].