March - June: Spring 2020 Newsletter
ARMC Tobacco Cessation Department
NEW-LUNG Newsletter
Contents:
SURGEON GENERAL’S REPORT
CALCULATE YOUR COST OF SMOKING
NICOTINE PATCHES COUPON
COVID-19: FACING IT TOGETHER
EAGLE NEWS INTERNATIONAL: WHAT COVID-19 MEANS FOR SMOKERS
NEW NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE
LUCKY CHARMS GRAMS
NEW-LUNG TESTIMONIALS
VIRTUAL CESSATION COUNSELING
NEW LUNG HAS HELPED PEOPLE WHO WANT TO QUIT SMOKING AND VAPING. THIS MANY PEOPLE HAVE RECEIVED NEW-LUNG SERVICES THIS QUARTER.
March
Adults 161
Youth 64
TOTAL 225
April
Adults 67
Youths 2
TOTAL 69
May
Adults 24
Youths 0
TOTAL 24
2020 Surgeon General’s Report: Smoking Cessation
What We’ve Learned in 30 Years Since the Last Report.
We know much more about the science of quitting than ever before. Research shows that smokers who use evidence-based tools to help them quit are more likely to succeed than those who do not, and that using a combination of these tools - coaching and nicotine replacement therapy, such as the nicotine patch or gum or a prescription medication - raises success rates even higher.
E-Cigarettes, a continually changing and heterogeneous group of products, are used in a variety of ways. Consequently, it is difficult to make generalizations about efficacy for cessation based on clinical trials involving a particular e-cigarette, and there is presently inadequate evidence to conclude that e-cigarettes, in general, increase smoking cessation.
Insurance coverage for smoking cessation treatment that is comprehensive, barrier-free, and widely promoted increases the use of these treatment services, leads to higher rates of successful quitting, and is cost-effective.
Comprehensive Smoke-Free Programs and Policies Are Important
More than three out of five U.S. adults who have ever smoked cigarettes have quit. Although a majority of cigarette smokers make a quit attempt each year, less than one-third use cessation medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or behavioral counseling to support quit attempts.
Considerable disparities exist in the prevalence of smoking across the U.S. population, with higher prevalence in some subgroups.
Smoking places a substantial financial burden on smokers, employers, and society.
OPTIONS FOR NRT: NRT offers well-established safety & efficacy profile
Smoking cessation medications approved by the U.S. FDA and behavioral counseling are cost-effective cessation strategies which increases the likelihood of successfully quitting smoking, particularly when used in combination. 1-866-NEW-LUNG offers a FREE supply of NicoDerm nicotine patches to adults 18 or older upon completion of tobacco cessation services. Services are available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, and Farsi. Call 1-866-639-5864 to sign up for tobacco cessation services
Helps with physical withdrawal symptoms.
Relieves cravings.
Doubles patients’ chances of successfully quitting
The only over-the-counter smoking cessation option that’s FDA approved.
Delivers controlled, therapeutic dose of nicotine.
Calculate Your Cost of Smoking
1-866-NEW-LUNG now has a digital calculator on our website to calculate your cost of smoking. Find out how much you have spent on cigarettes so far and how much you would spend in five to ten years if you continue to smoke.
In addition to realzing your cost of smokin g, the digital calculator on the NEW-LUNG website also estimates how much tar has accumulated due to smoking. According to the BMJ Journal, each cigarette contains between 6.8 to 21.6 mg of tar, depending on the person and how of the cigarette is smoked.
So, how much doees smoking cost in dollars and in health? Is it worth it?
By quitting smoking immediately, how will you spend your newfound health and wealth?
Sometimes, it may be hard to visualize how you benefit from quitting smoking. One of the easiest ways to see how your life will improve upon quitting is to calculate how much money you will save from no longer buying cigarettes. NEW-LUNG Tobacco Cessation Specialists encourage you to treat yourself from time to time. With the money you saved from quitting smoking, you will be able to spend that extra cash on yourself. It is also important to reward yourself to keep your momentum when quitting. Remember to be kind to yourself and recognize your efforts towards self-improvement.
Nicotine Patches Coupon
Money Saving Opportunity
RxPharmacyCards.com offers pharmacy coupons for discounts on your prescription drugs. Nicotine replacement therapy coupons are available on RxPharmacyCards and can save you up to 75% on branded and generic prescriptions.
Do I need to pay out of pocket?
Membership to RxPharmacyCards is free and provided coupons are free. However, it is only a discount card. Your out of pocket price depends on the brand of nicotine patches and the pharmacy. The website has a Medication Pricing Tool* to help you find out how much they can save.
Can it be used for all brands?
The card provides discounts on most generic and prescription drugs. You can used the Medication Pricing Tool* on the website to find out which nicotine patches brands are covered or you can also call RxPharmacyCards’ customer service.
Can I use this same card for other Nicotine Replacement Therapies (NRT)?
Each NRT requires a different card. Follow the links for each NRT: Chantix: https://www.rxpharmacycards.com/chantix-discount-card.html Nicotine Patches 24HR: https://www.rxpharmacycards.com/nicotine-patch-24-hr-discount-card.html Nicotrol: https://www.rxpharmacycards.com/nicotrol-discount-card.html
How does the coupon work?
Each card has a unique ID and the same card can be reused. Follow three steps to save money:
1. Print the card from the website (https://www.rxpharmacycards.com/nicotine-p atch-24-hr-discount-card.html). It is pre-activated and ready to use at the pharmacy. You can text or email the card to yourself.
2. Bring the card to the pharmacy along with your prescription. The cardholder can ask their doctor for a prescription for nicotine patches. At the pharmacy, the cardholder needs to take both the coupon card and prescription to the cashier. The discount will be applied at checkout.
3. Use the discount card like a coupon and save money on nicotine patches and other nicotine replacement therapies.
Does the coupon card expire?
No, the coupon card does not expire. The same card can be used again and again.
Is the card accepted in all pharmacies?
The card is accepted in over 68,000 major and private-owned pharmacies. You can call your pharmacy to ask if they honor the card. Use the Pharmacy Locator Tool* on the website to find the pharmacy nearest you.
*For more information:
• Visit the website: https://www.rxpharmacycards.com/index.html
• Read the FAQ: https://www.rxpharmacycards.com/frequently-asked-questions.html
• Medication Pricing Tool: https://www.rxpharmacycards.com/medication-pricing.html
• Pharmacy Locator: https://www.rxpharmacycards.com/pharmacy-locator.html
• RxPharmacyCard Customer Service: (877-321-6755)
Eagle News International: What COVID-19 Means for People Who Smoke?
April 2020 - On April 2nd, Tobacco Cessation Program Manager, Jaina Pallasigui, reported live on Eagle News International to discuss how smoking can affect the risk of contracting COVID-19.
In the interview, reporter Anna Qui and Jaina Pallasigui discussed the studies that have researched the links between smoking and COVID-19 cases. Studies done by the Chinese Medical Journal stated that out of 1,099 COVID-19 cases, people who smoke or vape have a 2.4 times higher chance of requiring mechanical ventilation if hospitalized.
During shelter-in-place orders, many people had their daily routines change suddenly and dramatically, which caused stress. The additional stress may cause people to relapse or increase their smoking. However, despite these external factors, it is important to remind ourselves of the importance to be as healthy as possible during this time. Quitting smoking and maintaining quit will keep lungs healthier to reduce chances of contracting or decrease symptoms of COVID-19.
As the pandemic continues, there is more research to be done to on COVID-19 and smoking. Now is the opportunity to make our lungs stronger. We want to be our healthiest in order to combat this virus. Make that commitment and call 1-866-NEW-LUNG to quit today. NEW-LUNG’s Tobacco Cessation Specialists will work with you to realize your reasons to quit smoking and develop a personalized Quit Plan to stay on the path of living a tobacco-free life.
Browse the Newsletter Archive
If you have read the NEW-LUNG Newsletter on www.1866NEWLUNG.com, get ready for some exciting updates. NEW-LUNG has updated the Newsletter Archive to a more interactive page. Now, you can view corresponding videos or graphics while reading the accompanying NEW-LUNG article if available. The PDF version of the newsletters will still be available for download. Just click the “DOWNLOAD PDF” button at the top of each page and the newsletter will be available for downloading straight to your computer.
With these new website pages, we hope to create an easier quitting experience. The tools and tips you need to keep going in your quit journey will be accessible through our website. www.1866NEWLUNG.com will be the resource headquarters you need for all things to stay on the path of quitting tobacco.
Join us on the Twittersphere - @1866NEWLUNG
1-866-NEW-LUNG is now tweeting on Twitter! Follow us on Twitter to see what we have been up to. We update our feed daily to bring you up-to-the-moment news about tobacco trends. What’s amazing about Twitter is the ability to instantly share information from other tobacco agencies from around the world. Join us on Twitter to indulge in the vast knowledge available online.
LUCKY CHARMS GRAMS - TRY YOUR LUCK, QUIT WITH US!
1-866-NEW-LUNG ran a campaign in March to promote NEW-LUNG’s new Quit Smoking E-Book.
Participants had the opportunity to send a little luck to someone they know who needs some motivation to quit smoking or quit vaping. Lucky Charms Grams included a Lucky Charms cereal bar, a NEW-LUNG podcast CD, and a copy of the new Quit-Smoking E-Book.
NEW-LUNG is hopeful that these grams will motivate people to quit during the Shelter-in- Place order and work on self improvement at this time.
If you would like to request a copy of the new Quit-Smoking E-Book or a NEW-LUNG Podcast CD, contact us and let us know what we can send you:
Tobacco Free for a Healthy Smile!
Smoking can cause lung cancer, heart disease, and long-term health problems. Using tobacco products such as cigarettes, vaping devices, cigars, and chewing tobacco can also be harmful to your oral health. Using tobacco products can lead to serious dental problems and make it more difficult to treat them.
Quitting tobacco use greatly reduces the risk of serious gum disease, tooth decay, and tooth loss. Over time, the risk of oral cancer and other health problems from tobacco use goes down. If you are ready to quit smoking, vaping, or chewing tobacco, or are trying to help a friend or loved one quit, click on the links below. Become tobacco free for a healthy smile and a healthier you!
To continue reading about how smoking affects your teeth and smile, visit Smile Habits OC.
IN COLLABORATION WITH: MORGAN SPILLAN OF WELLNESS CENTER WEST
NEW-LUNG has been a vital community partner for Wellness Center West for many years. The resources and education provided by NEW-LUNG has made many improvements in our members' lives.
At the Wellness Center, NEW-LUNG hosts monthly presentations for our members to learn about smoking cessation benefits and resources in a nonjudgmental, positive environment. These presentations are offered in English and Vietnamese, and the resources offered are in several more languages to fit our membership demographic. Our members enjoy these presentations, the interactions with the genuine and knowledgeable NEW-LUNG representatives, and the supportive follow up available if members have additional questions. NEW-LUNG presentations has provided positive change opportunities to over a hundred members at the Wellness Center.
Resources and presentations at the Wellness Center from NEW-LUNG are free and open to members. NEW-LUNG is a great organization to work with and our doors will always be open to them.
Please RSVP if you would like to sign up.
CALL 1-866-NEW LUNG (639-5864)
Free quit vaping classes are available.
*Must attend ALL CLASSES of 5 session class series.
Participants receive a FREE SUPPLY OF NICOTINE PATCHES.
Funded by the Orange County Health Care Agency/Tobacco Use Prevention Program.