Your HEALTHmatters

Quitting tobacco now can help you and your loved ones stay healthy! Whether you smoke, vape or use other tobacco products, quitting has many health benefits. Quitting tobacco:

• Adds years to your life.
  
• Lowers your risk of serious health issues, like heart disease and cancer.
  
• Protects family members from health risks linked to secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke is smoke that comes from burning tobacco or is exhaled by smokers.
• Saves you money.
• And more!
  

There are many resources to help you quit!

• Coaching through Kick It California This program is proven to help people quit with phone coaching and text reminders. To learn more, call them or visit www.kickitca.org.
• Medication The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved seven medications to help people quit tobacco. Medication options include:
  • Nicotine replacement such as skin patches, lozenges, nicotine gum, nicotine nasal spray and nicotine inhalers.
  • Medications that reduce cravings, such as Bupropion SR (Zyban) or Varenicline (Chantix).

Make sure you get a prescription from your provider for any of these medications, including over-the counter (OTC) medications.

CareAdvantage members: You can get these medications through your CareAdvantage pharmacy benefit. Talk with your primary care provider (PCP) to see what medications may be right for you.

Other members: Make sure you get a prescription from your provider for any of these medications, including over-the counter (OTC) medications. HPSM Medi-Cal members can get these medications through their Medi-Cal Rx pharmacy benefit. HSPM plans may have coverage limitations on these medications based on your health plan coverage. Talk with your primary care provider (PCP) to see what medications may be right for you.

• Other tools that can help you quit
  • Apps For more information, visit www.smokefree.gov/tools-tips/apps or
    https://kickitca.org/quit-vaping-app.
  • HPSM’s Quit Tobacco Newsletter Our eight-page newsletter is designed to help those who use tobacco quit. It explains the benefits of quitting, the six steps to building a quit plan and the resources that can help people quit. To view the newsletter on our website, visit www.hpsm.org/quit-smoking. To get a print copy mailed to you, call the Health Promotion Unit at 650-616-2165.