Sometimes stopping something can be as hard as challenging yourself to start something new. If you are thinking about quitting tobacco and would like some help for a fresh start in the new year, a quitline might be just what you need to succeed.

Quit Now Virginia (800-QUIT-NOW) provides free telephone- and web-based tobacco cessation coaching to all Virginians over age 13 who are interesting in kicking their nicotine habit, as well as people looking to help a loved one to quit. A range of coaching services is available for all tobacco usage: cigarettes, cigars, e-cigarettes, vaping, and smokeless tobacco products like snuff, snus, and dip. Access to tobacco cessation medication known as “nicotine replacement therapy (NRT)” is also available, usually in the form of patches or gum.

Tobacco products work by rapidly delivering nicotine to your brain. Over time, nicotine changes how your brain works by making it used to having nicotine around. When you stop smoking, your brain can become irritable. You may have trouble concentrating or sleeping, experience strong urges to smoke, or just feel uncomfortable. These “withdrawal” sensations can last for some time, making it challenging to quit, but the great news is that they will improve after a few weeks.

Quitlines provide free coaching to help you adjust to not having tobacco in your system. Quit coaches are trained to help people succeed, and are typically available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They understand what you are going through because many of them used to smoke themselves. Coaches will help you on your journey as good listeners, providing encouragement and offering helpful tips.

Quit Now Virginia can support you to quit your way: whether you prefer one-on-one coaching sessions with a trained coach using phone, text, or online chat, or whether you prefer being with others through online group coaching. Thanks to personalized coaching and tracking, as well as tools for in-the-moment urge management, programs like this have been shown to help people break their nicotine habits.

Coaching services through Quit Now Virginia are available completely free of charge. Once you are enrolled, quit coaches can help you access medicines that may be beneficial to you, either using your health insurance benefits, or through community programs for people who do not have health insurance. In addition, they can offer tips and support on topics such as:

• How to deal with cravings and withdrawal.
• How to get the right kind of help from your friends and family.
• What websites, apps, and texting programs might help you quit.
• Whether to use quit-smoking medication and how to use it.

You don’t have to already be tobacco-free, or even ready to quit before you call the quitline. Quit coaches can help you explore your concerns and doubts about quitting and help you identify new solutions. Even if you don’t use tobacco, you may be worried about the health of a friend or loved one who smokes. Quit line coaches can also help you come up with a plan to help them.

If you use tobacco or other nicotine products and are even thinking about quitting for a healthier start to 2024, please know that Quit Now Virginia is there, ready to support you in whatever way works for you.