10 Organizations Dedicated to Helping You Quit Smoking

Many compare quitting smoking to overcoming a heroin addiction, which is why countless websites, products, and services are available to assist smokers. Even after successfully quitting, there's a 75% chance of relapse in your lifetime [source: Gorman]. Tobacco use claims nearly 400,000 lives annually and contributes to almost $200 billion in healthcare costs in the U.S. alone [source: American Lung Association]. Beyond lung-related diseases, smokers face higher risks of coronary heart disease, stroke, and cancers affecting the bladder, cervix, kidney, stomach, and uterus.

Smoking harms not only your health but also the well-being of those around you, and it's a significant financial burden. With cigarettes costing about $5 per pack, a pack-a-day habit translates to roughly $1,825 spent annually. In the U.S., smokers collectively spend over $83 billion on cigarettes each year [source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention].

The market is flooded with various smoking cessation products, ranging from smokeless tobacco alternatives and nicotine gum to prescription drugs designed to help smokers quit. While quitting smoking is no simple task, numerous organizations, including some tobacco companies, are dedicated to supporting your efforts. Continue reading to discover more.

10: The Foundation for a Smokefree America

Patrick Reynolds, the grandson of R.J. Reynolds, established the Foundation for a Smokefree America after witnessing the toll smoking-related illnesses took on his family. He divested his shares in the tobacco company to create the foundation in 1989. Since then, he has addressed students at various educational levels and even presented testimony to Congress about the risks of tobacco. The foundation's goal is to "inspire youth to remain tobacco-free and support smokers in quitting successfully."

The foundation focuses on educating smokers, potential smokers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers about the hazards of smoking and effective cessation methods. They have also launched media initiatives, such as celebrity-endorsed public service announcements to deter teens from smoking. Additionally, they created an educational video titled "The Truth About Tobacco" for students in grades six through twelve.

Their cessation initiatives feature online advice, breaking down the process into two stages: "Quitting with Help" and "Staying Smokefree." They operate a helpline, 1-800-QUIT-NOW, offering support to those aiming to quit or avoid relapse, and recommend resources from other anti-smoking organizations. Their website also provides guidance for family members on how to encourage their loved ones to quit smoking.

9: Become an EX

The National Alliance for Tobacco Cessation (NATC), funded by the American Legacy Fund from the 1998 Big Tobacco settlement, is a key program supporting smokers. The settlement mandated tobacco companies to contribute $250 million over a decade to the fund [source: Wilson]. NATC operates the EX platform, an online resource dedicated to helping individuals quit smoking and maintain a smoke-free lifestyle.

The EX website allows users to develop a "Quit Plan" by inputting details about their smoking habits. It generates a personalized quitting schedule and checklist to guide users through the process. The program helps identify smoking triggers by tracking usage patterns and assists in breaking associations with common triggers like meals, driving, or consuming coffee or alcohol. Additionally, it offers support as the quit date approaches and provides strategies to prevent relapses.

Many former smokers find it just as challenging to remain smoke-free as it was to quit initially. EX offers tools to prevent relapses, emphasizing education about the health advantages of quitting. It also tackles common post-quit struggles, such as managing weight and reducing stress.

8: QuitNet

QuitNet, an online platform, operates on the principle that quitting smoking is more manageable with social support. Founded in 1995 by a Boston doctor, it is now managed by Healthways, a for-profit organization. While basic membership is free, a premium option costing around $10 monthly provides personalized counseling, an enhanced quitting guide, medication advice, and milestone rewards.

QuitNet's basic program mirrors EX's approach, allowing users to set a quit date and access site support. Its unique feature is its community focus, offering forums to connect with others and the ability to add "buddies" for extra encouragement. The platform also emphasizes medication, with all members accessing a guide detailing nicotine replacement therapies (like patches) and prescription drugs (such as Wellbutrin) to aid in quitting.

7: American Cancer Society

While smoking's link to lung cancer is widely known, it also increases the risk of cancers in the bladder, cervix, kidney, stomach, and uterus. The American Cancer Society (ACS) is committed to helping smokers quit. Their online "Guide to Quitting Smoking" outlines the health, financial, and social advantages of quitting, alongside tools to address both the psychological and physical aspects of addiction.

The ACS website is candid about the success rates for quitting smoking: those who attempt to quit without assistance have only a 4 to 7 percent chance of remaining smoke-free. They advocate for professional support, such as behavioral therapy, to improve these odds, and also recommend medications, which can boost success rates to 25 to 33 percent.

Similar to QuitNet, the ACS provides advice on managing weight gain often associated with quitting smoking. They recommend physical activity and spiritual practices as ways to handle stress without relying on cigarettes.

6: The Government

Given the significant public health impact of smoking-related diseases, numerous government agencies are dedicated to helping individuals quit smoking.

In the U.S., both federal and state governments provide resources to assist smokers in quitting. Websites like Smokefree.gov offer advice, access to professional counseling, and state-specific quitting resources. Many states, funded in part by the Master Settlement Agreement, have their own cessation programs. For instance, New York residents can access online "quit coaches" or receive free nicotine gum or patches to aid their efforts.

Government efforts to help smokers quit extend beyond the U.S. Australia, for example, has a comprehensive anti-smoking initiative, including a Quitline for support and the QuitCoach online platform. In the U.K., the Department of Health operates the Smokefree service, which provides Quit Kits and information on nicotine addiction.

5: American Heart Association

The American Heart Association (AHA) lists smoking as one of the six primary risk factors for coronary heart disease. Smokers face a higher likelihood of blood clots and reduced physical activity, both of which negatively impact heart health. Their quit smoking resources include detailed information on the dangers of smoking, along with tools to help you quit, resist cravings, and develop a long-term plan to stay smoke-free.

The AHA's quitting plan is less complex than some other programs. Instead of an interactive platform, it offers practical tips for managing cravings in various settings, such as at home, outdoors, or in social situations. They suggest maintaining a list of enjoyable activities to turn to during cravings as part of the transition process.

4: Nicotine Anonymous

Although not officially linked to Alcoholics Anonymous, Nicotine Anonymous employs a similar 12-step program to help individuals quit smoking. It operates independently of religious or governmental affiliations and is free to join and attend meetings.

Nicotine Anonymous offers in-person, online, and telephone meetings to support smokers in their quitting journey. Using their online search tool, users can locate meetings in 46 U.S. states, Washington D.C., and 38 other countries. For areas without meetings, the organization provides a "Meetings Starter Kit" to help individuals establish local Nicotine Anonymous groups.

In addition to the 12 steps, Nicotine Anonymous follows "Twelve Traditions," which emphasize the group's mission to remain unorganized, avoid external funding, and stay non-commercial. While the steps and traditions reference God, the organization stresses that it does not endorse any specific religion.

3: American Lung Association

The American Lung Association (ALA) runs a comprehensive anti-smoking initiative, offering resources for individuals and employers. Their Lung HelpLine connects smokers with nurses or respiratory therapists to discuss lung health. They also support programs like "Not on Tobacco" and "Freedom From Smoking" to aid in tobacco cessation.

"Not on Tobacco" focuses on educating teens about the risks of smoking to prevent them from starting. "Freedom From Smoking" is designed for adults, providing a structured program to set a quit date and support smokers in transitioning to a smoke-free life. While the program offers a free trial, premium features come at a cost.

The ALA's program stands out by offering tools for employers to reduce healthcare costs by helping employees quit smoking. The "Freedom From Smoking" initiative includes resources like seven-week clinics to assist employees in breaking their smoking habits.

2: Tobacco Companies

It may seem surprising, but a major tobacco company sponsors a well-known smoking cessation website.

Philip Morris, the maker of Marlboro and Parliament cigarettes, operates the QuitAssist program. This initiative offers tips and resources to help smokers quit, compiling third-party tools like quitlines and online quitting communities. It also includes testimonials from former smokers and highlights the health benefits of quitting.

However, some find it suspicious that a tobacco company promotes smoking cessation. Critics argue that Philip Morris uses QuitAssist to enhance its brand image and potentially bypass regulations on marketing cigarettes to teenagers.

1: For-profit Companies

Cigarettes are a lucrative industry, and with millions of smokers attempting to quit, smoking cessation has also become a significant market. A variety of mainstream and unconventional products are available to assist smokers in their efforts to quit.

Many are familiar with mainstream options like nicotine replacement therapy and smokeless tobacco. Popular products such as NicoDerm and Nicorette are widely used by those trying to quit. These products help manage the physical addiction by gradually reducing nicotine intake. Smokeless tobacco, meanwhile, addresses the psychological aspect of smoking by allowing users to mimic the act without actually consuming cigarettes.

Alternative therapies also exist to help smokers quit. Methods like hypnosis, acupuncture, and meditation CDs target the emotional addiction, which many find as challenging as overcoming nicotine dependence. Some products even offer "subliminal meditation," combining calming music with hidden messages aimed at reducing the desire to smoke.