Quit Tobacco

Tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke together represent the number one cause of preventable deaths in this country. The St. Mary’s County Health Department (SMCHD) encourages all tobacco users to quit to better support their health and the health of others.

Nicotine Cessation Program

The Nicotine Cessation Program is FREE and takes place over the course of 7 weeks (weekly 1-hour sessions). Participants learn behavioral modifications, stress management, and other techniques to help them quit using nicotine products.

Upcoming Sessions:

Classes are held on Tuesdays from 5:30-6:30 in 7-week sessions.

September 10, 2024 – October 22, 2024
January 7, 2025 – February 18, 2025
March 4, 2025 – April 15, 2025
April 29, 2025 – June 10, 2025

From November to December, we will be offering one-on-one sessions for those who need resources and cessation support during the holiday season. It is strongly suggested that clients enroll in an upcoming session upon Group Cessation classes resuming.

American Lung Associations’ Freedom from Smoking Adult Cessation Classes

Over the course of eight sessions led by an expert Freedom From Smoking® facilitator, group participants work through the quitting process together. Seven weeks may sound like a lot of time, but research has proven that the more time a tobacco user spends in a supportive situation while trying to quit, the more likely they are to succeed. People who use the Freedom From Smoking® Group Program are six times more likely to be tobacco-free one year later than those who try to quit on their own.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is the most commonly used family of quit-smoking medications. NRT reduces withdrawal feelings by giving you a small controlled amount of nicotine without the dangerous chemicals found in cigarettes. This small amount of nicotine helps satisfy your craving for nicotine and reduces the urge to smoke. Combining NRT with other strategies can improve your chances of quitting and staying quit.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy and Adolescent Patients: Information for Pediatricians