Tobacco quitlines are evidence-based – staffed by trained professionals who tailor tobacco quit plans and provide personalized tobacco cessation counseling to individuals. In addition to the typical telephone quitlines, the National Cancer Institute’s Quitline is available via an iPhone application, My QuitLine.

Quitlines follow-up with individuals over time and some may find the one-on-one support more appealing than group counseling sessions. There is no charge to the patient for tobacco cessation services; be sure to check with the respective quitlines because often there is support for free or low-cost nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs). For example, if a Texas healthcare provider refers an individual to the Texas quitline (1-877-YES-QUIT) utilizing the fax referral form, the patient is eligible for free NRTs throughout the quitline plan. Other states may have similar opportunities. Referring a patient to a quitline takes less than 30 seconds but it just might save their life.