Washington DC VA Medical Center Hosts Great American Smokeout

This national observance is an opportunity to bring together community resources and health care providers to encourage and challenge tobacco users to quit, while providing them with tools they can use to successfully remain tobacco free.

The Washington DC VA Medical Center will observe the Great American Smokeout this year with a resource booth in the main medical center atrium on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Veterans and VA employees interested in quitting tobacco can stop by the booth to speak with the medical center’s lead tobacco clinician, Carrie Pineda, R.N., to learn about the tobacco cessation program. Pineda is also a member of the Lung Cancer Screening Program, so she sees first-hand the negative side-effects that tobacco has on good health.

“Smoking effects the entire body. It can damage the lungs and heart, increase your risk of stroke or heart attack, slow down blood flow and create consequences for your entire system. With so many risk factors to our health that we cannot control, like age and genetics, it is very important that we eliminate negative threats that we can control, like tobacco use.”

Pineda teaches a virtual introductory tobacco cessation class every Tuesday at 9 a.m. for Veterans interested in quitting tobacco. The course, called Breathe Easy, covers topics like setting a quit date, preparing for your quit date, and resources available to manage stress while quitting. Washington DC VA Medical Center Pharmacist Divivian Jerome-McGuire, also teaches those who attend about medications available through the VA that can help break the habit.

There are many types of medications available to help break the nicotine craving that is most commonly associated with tobacco use. Some work as nicotine replacement therapy options that allow you to slowly reduce your nicotine consumption over time. Other medications work to reduce cravings without any nicotine at all.  All medications are effective in increasing your chances of stopping tobacco for good.

The medications listed below are available through VA:

• Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) Nicotine patch
• Nicotine lozenge
• Nicotine gum
• Bupropion (Zyban®, Wellbutrin®)
• Varenicline (Chantix®)

“We really recommend a combination of resources for quitting. When you combine therapy with medication and the proper support, the results are much more effective,” said Pineda. “It’s curbing the craving but also kicking the psychological withdrawals too. You have to reset habits that were once associated with smoking. We can help you do that through a combination of things.”

Pineda added that for those trying to quit who live with other smokers, it can be useful to know what resources are available outside of the VA as well.

“If your spouse smokes, or someone else in the house, it can be difficult to stick with quitting. But if they are willing to try to quit with you, then find out about your state’s tobacco cessation resources available to them. And, if your spouse is a federal employee, they have access to tobacco cessation resources through their health insurance, no co-pay required. That is a requirement of all federal health plans,” said Pineda.

Research shows that it takes on average, six to eight times for a tobacco user to successfully quit. Pineda encourages those who have tried and failed to quit, to give the tobacco cessation program a try.

“Don’t give up hope. Utilize your resources. We have so many combinations of therapy that we can offer you to try if you’re ready to quit. Just reach out and let us help you on your journey to being tobacco free,” said Pineda.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To learn more about the Great American Smokeout, visit: Great American Smokeout | American Cancer Society

To learn more about tobacco cessation at Washington DC VA Medical Center, visit: Tobacco and Health - Mental Health (va.gov)