Great American Smokeout – November 17, 2022

VA encourages Veterans to explore VA resources that can help them stop smoking and improve their health and mood.

At the Aleda E. Lutz VAMC, we are dedicated to those Veterans who are focused on the goal of quitting tobacco and nicotine products.  Veterans who present with a strong desire to stop the use of cigarettes, chewing tobacco, vape pens, and other forms of tobacco/nicotine have a number of different avenues to explore in their journey toward quitting.  For many Veterans a meeting with their primary care provider can get them connected to pharmacy to explore the usage of medication and/or Nicotine Replacement Treatments (NRTs) which include the use of nicotine gum, nicotine lozenges, and patches. While many Veterans are aware of this option, new connections with pharmacy and mental health have helped to connect Veterans for follow-up discussions with our therapists who are ready to explore behavior and lifestyle changes to support the quit process.  This can be done through a consult or a meeting with the Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) provider connected to your team or our tobacco cessation clinicians.  Our Whole Health Coaches are also now leading a support group virtually for our Veterans who are interested in working alongside other Veterans in their quit process.  The opportunity to work with a health coach individually to help with this process is also available.

This is just a sample of the programs available to assist our Veterans in stopping the use of tobacco and nicotine products which have likely been a part of their lives for several years.  “As a note, best results are seen by utilizing a combined approach to this process in working with a number of VA teams,” stated Dr. Trevor Grice, Health Behavior Psychologist and Tobacco Cessation Lead Clinician.  “Oftentimes our Veterans ‘skip’ out on the discussions with health behavior experts with the hope that the medications and the NRTs will do the trick.  However, it is important to note that you are dealing with a behavior and a habit that you likely have engaged in for more than half of your life and those habits are often found to be some of the hardest to break and work through.  Do know that we are here to help!”  Interested Veterans can check with their providers and/or nurses to get started today. Additional resources are available to help Veterans quit and stay successful at https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/quit-tobacco/index.asp

The Aleda E. Lutz VAMC in Saginaw, Michigan operates an 81-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation Community Living Center. It provides care to over 40,126 Veterans in a 35-county geographic area, from mid-Michigan to the Mackinac Bridge. Veterans can also receive care at one of our nine VA Community Based Outpatient Clinics located throughout Michigan. More information about this VA can be found at www.va.gov/saginaw-health-care/.  

Tara Scheuer, Public Affairs Officer

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