Resources to Help Service Members and Their Families be Tobacco Free

There are several varieties of cessation tools, including Quitlines, chat services, and websites that are offered at both the state and national levels. CDC’s Tips from Former Smoker’s® lists several methods to quit based on an individual’s personal preference.

Quitlines

Tobacco Quitlines are free telephone-based tobacco cessation services that are available at no cost to residents of every state, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. Quitlines help tobacco users quit though a variety of services, including individual counseling from a specially trained coach, practical information on how to quit, referral to other cessation resources, mailed self-help materials, information on FDA-approved cessation medications, and, in some cases, free cessation medications.

State quitlines are also increasingly offering cessation services through the web, text messaging, and chat. Services and hours of operation vary from state to state. You can reach your state quitline by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669).

National Cancer Institute Hotline

In addition to the national and state hotlines, The National Cancer Institute sponsors a Hotline to help individuals quit smoking. Trained counselors provide information and support for quitting in English and Spanish. Call Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Eastern time. Service members and their families can call 1-877-44U-QUIT (877-448-7848).

What’s the difference between a Quitline and a Hotline?

Quitlines help tobacco users quit though a variety of services, including individual counseling from a specially trained coach, practical information on how to quit, referral to other cessation resources, mailed self-help materials, information on FDA-approved cessation medications, and, in some cases, free cessation medications. State quitlines are also increasingly offering cessation services through the web, text messaging, and chat. Hotlines provide general information and resources and are not as comprehensive in services

Texting programs and Web-Based Tools

Texting programs and web-based applications provide other options for active-duty service members and their family members who want help quitting smoking but who do not want to use a Quitline or Hotline. Smokefree.gov is designed for the individual, providing information and tools for quitting, including texting programs, phone apps, and a personalized quit plan builder.

Military-Specific Quit Resources

There are specialized prevention and cessation tools available for Service members and veterans to use. The TRICARE benefit plan offers coverage to help those covered stop using tobacco products. There are two ways a Service member can determine their eligibility to use this benefit: they can visit the Eligibility Information webpage on TRICARE’s website, or identify the best number to call by completing a brief questionnaire.

YouCanQuit2, is a DoD program dedicated to helping U.S. Service members quit tobacco. The services on this website are available for all Service members including reservists, guardsmen, and family members regardless of their TRICARE eligibility.

Tips from Former Smokers

The CDC Tips from Former Smokers campaign is the first federally funded national tobacco education campaign. The campaign, which has aired annually for varying periods of time each year since 2012, is intended to motivate adult smokers to quit. The campaign features testimonials from real people who are living with serious smoking-related diseases. The campaign website includes information on the campaign, the stories of the people who appear in Tips ads, and information and resources to help people quit smoking. The campaign includes information on several veterans who have appeared in Tips ads as well as information on cessation resources for active-duty Service members and veterans.

What you can do:

Refer active duty service members and their family members who want help quitting smoking to the cessation tools created specifically for them through TRICARE or the YouCanQuit2 program.
If they do not have TRICARE, refer them to 1-800-QUIT-NOW for free, convenient telephone cessation counseling and related services from their state quitline.
Share with them the Five Reasons Why Calling a Quitline Can Be Key to Your Success webpage. It addresses some of the common barriers that prevent individuals from calling a Quitline and includes videos of what it is like to call a Quitline.
Refer individuals who want help quitting smoking, but do not want individual counseling to Smokefree.gov for free, convenient web-based cessation support.
Refer individuals to Tips from Former Smokers for motivation to quit and information and resources to help them quit.
Collaborate with health care providers, health systems, and cessation program planners to implement one or more of the best practices outlined on the CDC’s Tobacco Control Program website.