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Quit smoking today with help from Minneapolis VA

Man in plaid shirt and glasses sitting at a desk, talking on the phone.

By Marissa Evans, Staff Clinical Health Psychologist

Smoking can cause cancer and heart disease, the two leading causes of death in the U.S. Quitting smoking improves health, but it is hard to quit smoking alone.

Each year, more than half of adults who are smoking try to quit, but fewer than one in ten succeed. Studies show that counseling and prescriptions designed to help smokers quit can work. But not every Veteran can easily access these resources. Minneapolis VA offers several ways to help Veterans quit using tobacco products to protect their health.

Education calls 
The Veterans Health Administration started a new education program to help Veterans learn about and receive tobacco treatment and Minneapolis VA was chosen as a pilot site. Minneapolis VA Tobacco Treatment team members call Veterans who use tobacco to explore the pros and cons of quitting and inform them about treatment options. They have contacted more than 460 Veterans to help them quit.  

Some of the services they talk about include:

  • Receiving free individual coaching by calling the Veteran’s quit line (1-855-QUIT-VET) Texting VET to 47848 to sign up for free motivational texts from SmokefreeVET 
  • Downloading the free “Stay Quit Coach” phone app 
  • Joining individual or group counseling at the VA to quit tobacco.  
    Getting Chantix, Wellbutrin, patches, lozenges, or gum from a VA provider (may have a copay for prescription) 
  • Participating in clinical hypnosis sessions (may have a copay for appointments) 
  • Participating in NADA acupuncture

Tobacco quit groups 
The most successful tobacco quit program at Minneapolis VA is the weekly group counseling program. The group is led by a team of providers - a psychologist, an advanced practice nurse, and a peer support specialist. This team meets with groups of Veterans to help them quit smoking or reduce how much tobacco they use. This approach is more successful than one-on-one counseling or prescriptions alone. The program supports Veterans by training them in stress management skills and advising them about medications to help them quit. Most importantly, it allows Veterans to support each other and know that they are not alone in their journey.

Veterans who participate in weekly counseling have shared comments on the program:

  • "This group helps to keep me accountable in a good way."
  • "Everyone in this group is so understanding and I don't feel judged."  
  • "It's so motivating to hear from people who have quit using tobacco products. If they can do it, I know I can."
  • "I think what makes this group so successful is the honesty of the various members."
  • "People share if they're still smoking. All you have to do is be yourself and be open and honest."
  • "The support of you three providers. The support is just a thousand percent the reason I keep coming."

"Our team is here for you whenever it feels right. You can come every week, or just once. If you leave for a while and then come back, you will always be welcomed back warmly," said Megan Daman, an advanced practice registered nurse, and one of the group leaders. “The group will meet and support you where you are.”  

There are two virtual groups; Wednesdays 10:00 –11:00 a.m. and Thursdays 9:00 –10:00 a.m. Ask your doctor about tobacco group counseling or simply call the Minneapolis VA Tobacco Treatment team at to get involved.

Lung cancer screening 
Lung cancer screening is crucial for early detection of the disease, which significantly improves treatment outcomes and survival rates, especially for high-risk individuals. Talk to your doctor at your next VA appointment about a screening if you: have a 20 pack-year or more smoking history (1 pack per year for 20 years or 2 packs per year for 10 years), and smoke now or have quit within the past 15 years and are between 50 and 80 years old. 

In November we host a Lung Cancer Screening event, you may have seen the big blow-up lungs in the main flag atrium at the medical center. Last November the Tobacco Treatment team spoke to over 450 Veterans about how to quit using tobacco and the importance of screening for lung cancer. The annual event aligns with Great American Smokeout, the third Thursday in November, a day in which the American Cancer Society challenges smokers to commit to a smoke-free life.  

Members of the Minneapolis VA Tobacco Treatment team say helping Veterans quit using tobacco products to live a longer and healthier life is inspiring work. The team looks forward to walking with you on your journey, whenever you are ready to start.