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Smoke-Free Living
The Snohomish County Health Department’s Tobacco Prevention program provides education and technical assistance to businesses, policy makers, and others to advocate for tobacco-free, smoke-free and vape-free policies.
Tobacco Use in Washington State
Tobacco use is the largest preventable cause of death and disease in the state. It results in the deaths of around 8,300 Washingtonians every year. Nationwide, tobacco use results in the deaths of 480,000 Americans. Another 8.6 million are living with a serious illness related to smoking, causing them enormous financial and emotional hardship.
Learn more about the types of diseases smoking causes or the state of tobacco use in Washington and our country by reading the surgeon general’s report on tobacco.
HELP WITH QUITTING TOBACCO
The Affordable Care Act requires all insurance policies to cover some form of cessation services. What exactly they cover may vary from policy to policy. To see if your policy is included by viewing the How the Affordable Care Act Affects Tobacco Use and Control (PDF).
QUIT LINES
Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) for the tobacco quitline.
Washington State also offers a quit line with counselors in a variety of languages:
- Chinese: 800-838-8917
- English: 800-784-8669
- Korean: 800-556-5564
- Spanish: 877-266-3863
- Vietnamese: 800-778-8440
Quit apps
Quit apps or text support on your smartphone are a good resource to consider. Options include:
- QuitGuide
- quitSTART
- SmokefreeTXT
- Free Quit apps from the Washington State Department of Health and 2Morrow at www.doh.wa.gov/quit
- Smoking & tobacco cessation for age 20 and older
- Smoking & tobacco cessation for ages 18 to 20
- Vaping cessation
Nicotine replacement options are available over-the-counter at many pharmacies and drug stores. They include:
- gum
- lozenges
- patches
You can also talk to your doctor about medications to help you quit smoking. There are two approved prescription medications: Chantix and Zyban.
Talk to your provider about your options for quitting, including nicotine replacement or medications.
Counseling, in-person support groups, and peer support systems are important resources to help with quitting tobacco.
- Nicotine Anonymous may have a group near you.
- Become an Ex Smoker also has a free support community, as well as help with creating quit plans and other tools.
- The American Lung Association has support and community resources.
- Family and friends may be your most important support group. Your loved ones want you to be healthy.
BENEFITS OF QUITTING
When you quit smoking, the health benefits add up quickly.
- Within 20 minutes, your heart rate and blood pressure drop.
- The carbon monoxide level in your blood decreases within about 12 hours.
- Within weeks, circulation and lung function improve.
A decade after someone has quit smoking, the benefits are even greater. They will have:
- Cut their risk of coronary heart disease and multiple types of cancer - including mouth, throat, esophagus, and bladder - in half.
- They likely won't cough as much or have frequent shortness of breath.
- Their lungs are better able to clean themselves and avoid infection.