The annual Great American Smokeout will be held Nov. 20 to help smokers quit cigarettes for at least one day, in hopes they will quit forever.  More people quit smoking on this day than any other day of the year.

If the Great American Smokeout isn’t incentive enough for you to quit, then the Tobacco Cessation Clinic at Austin Medical Center (AMC) can help.  The Tobacco Cessation Clinic will be holding an open house on Nov. 20 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Patient Education and Resource Center in recognition of the Great American Smokeout, located across from Customer Service in the main entrance at AMC.  All staff and visitors are invited to receive a free carbon monoxide screening, refreshments and door prizes. Last year, more than 10 million Americans took the Great American Smokeout challenge for the one day, and many of those people went a step further and quit for good.  So set yourself free — and be smoke free forever.

The Tobacco Cessation Clinic at AMC is staffed by physicians, counselors and pharmacists experienced in treating tobacco addiction.  Patients can be referred to the program by a physician who provides their health care or can be self-referred.

Treatment is tailored to each patient’s needs and always includes individual counseling, medication therapy and follow-up care.  A typical program includes:

Individual consultation and counseling — in-depth assessment of a patient’s tobacco use and development of a treatment plan; assistance with, understanding and changing nicotine-dependence behaviors.

Relapse prevention — regular telephone follow-up for advice and encouragement for six months after completing the initial program.  Additional face-to-face follow-up counseling is available.

Prescription therapy — medication can be prescribed to help quit tobacco use and ease symptoms of withdrawal.  Medications may include: nicotine patches; nicotine gum; Chantix (tablet); Bupropion (tablet); nicotine nasal spray; nicotine inhaler; and nicotine lozenge.

For information about quitting tobacco use or to schedule an appointment with Deb Skare, MA, TTS, at the Tobacco Cessation Clinic, call 434-1429 or (888) 609-4065 (toll-free).