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Free Tobacco Cessation Programs in Westchester County
In collaboration with the Westchester County Department of Health, several community orgs are offering FREE programming to help adults quit
It is universally recognized that the decision to quit smoking and vaping is among the most significant, yet difficult, choices one can make for their health. This can be especially true for communities who are exposed to more tobacco imagery and advertising, face frequent stressors, and lack the resources to make quitting easier. According to the most recent NYS Department of Health data, smoking rates remain highest among adults with an annual income of less than $25,000 (18.4%) and adults reporting frequent mental distress (18.4%).
The Westchester County Health Department and partnering community organizations are addressing the gaps in free, available cessation programming and tobacco-related health disparities by funding several cessation programs throughout the county. The American Lung Association’s Freedom from Smoking (FFS) Program has been helping adults quit smoking and overcome their nicotine addiction for decades. This treatment plan targets all three facets of tobacco addiction: the biological, the psychological, and the sociocultural.
“Quitting smoking can be the best thing a person can do for themselves and for those they love,” says Khushbu Upadhyay, Tobacco Program Manager for the Center for a Tobacco-Free Hudson Valley. “We remind them they don’t have to do it alone. In addition to talking to your doctor about quit smoking, cessation programs like FFS are a great resource for someone who is considering taking the next step to quit tobacco use.”
Find out what's happening in Mount Vernonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Currently, FFS is being offered at the Westchester Community Health Center in Mount Vernon, United Community Center of Westchester in New Rochelle, The Loft LGBTQ+ Community Center in White Plains, and both the City of Restoration Ministries and Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Yonkers. Those interested can contact these organizations for more details on session dates and times.
If you are unable to make these, additional support is available for free through the New York State Quitline. Simply call 1-866-NY-QUITS or text QUITNOW to 333888 for assistance.
