Free Nicotine Patches Now Available To Massachusetts Veterans And Their Families
Veterans have higher smoking rates than the general populationBOSTON – Massachusetts veterans and their family members and survivors can receive a free four-week supply of nicotine patches valued at $100 retail, along with informational resources on quitting smoking, and tips on how to stop. Program participants can also receive free telephone support to help them quit.
This new quit-smoking offer for veterans is a joint effort of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Massachusetts Department of Veterans’ Services. Using medicines like the nicotine patch makes a smoker twice as likely to be able to quit for good.
“Giving a full month’s worth of nicotine patches away for free is going to make it a lot easier for veterans to quit smoking,” Richard T. McCarthy, Veterans Service Officer for the City of North Adams, said about the offer. “Our veterans have served our country and put their lives on the line. Now we have a way to help them improve their health and live longer lives.”
Massachusetts veterans smoke at a higher rate than the general adult population: 24% as opposed to 18%, when adjusted for age (based on figures from 2005-07).
To take advantage of the promotion, veterans and their family members and survivors should call the Massachusetts Smokers Helpline at 1-800-Try-To-Stop. The free nicotine patch offer will run through June 30, 2009.
“If you’ve tried to quit before, try again,” Richard McCarthy said. It takes most smokers a few tries to quit for good. “We hope that this great, free offer for veterans lets them know we care about them and we’re standing behind them to help them quit smoking.”
More information on the nicotine patch giveaway program is available by calling 1-800-Try-To-Stop, or online at www.makesmokinghistory.com/veterans.
