Written by Parker, Public Health Intern at Groups
Hi! My name is Parker, and I am an intern here at Groups. My main job while here has been to research the benefits of quitting tobacco or vaping while also quitting opioids. Let me tell you—it will benefit you in the long run to do both! For one, research shows that you are 25% more likely to maintain long-term abstinence from opioids if you also quit tobacco or vaping. Quitting these two things at once likely seems daunting, but there are a lot of people here at Groups working hard to make this transition possible for you.
The most effective way to quit tobacco is to use nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) paired with behavioral counseling. NRT, such as patches, gum, or lozenges, can often be bought without a prescription. Right now in Maine, you can sign up for our Start to Quit program and get two weeks of free NRT from your local Groups office. Just ask your counselor to learn more about the program.
You can also often get an additional 12-16 weeks of free NRT and support from the Maine QuitLink–a free online and mobile service that you can reach at mainequitlink.com or by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669). Groups’ own Start to Quit program also includes a 12-week “quit curious” support group for members. Whether you are in the process of quitting, considering quitting or considering thinking about quitting. This is the place for you. talk to your counselor for registration information.
I want to applaud you for even considering cutting down or quitting smoking or vaping. Whether it is a fleeting thought one day or an actionable step like calling the QuitLink, you are making progress. The Centers for Disease Control says that it takes an average person 8 to 11 quit attempts before sticking with it. Some other studies say that this number may even be higher. Rather than viewing this as overwhelming, I hope you will instead see it as an opportunity to give yourself a pat on the back and some grace. Maybe you have tried quitting a few times and it hasn’t stuck. Maybe you have considered quitting but have been nervous to go all in. Maybe you have reduced your tobacco intake. All of these things should be considered progress—even delaying smoking or vaping by an hour or two makes a big difference.
The next step in your quit journey is to see if you can take it one step further—whatever that may mean to you.
Want to learn more about Groups’ Start to Quit program? Talk to your counselor today to get more information and see how medication and group support can help your quit journey.
