The
Tobacco Control
Initiative (TCI)
In partnership with the
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
School of Public Health
The Tobacco Control
Initiative (TCI) is a
multi-disciplinary program specializing in helping tobacco users quit.
TCI offers free or low-cost, evidenced tobacco treatment services to
all Louisiana public hospital patients, employees, and the communities
they serve.
Services offered to
tobacco users include:
- Self-help material
- Behavioral counseling (individual
and group)
- Quit-line support
- Pharmacotherapy
- Social Support
Our
Services
The Tobacco Control Initiative (TCI) provides 5 treatment options to
public hospital patients when treating tobacco use and
dependency. These treatment options are:
Self-Help
Material
Guide to
Quit Smoking
The Guide to Quit Smoking flyer provides brief advice to people who are
interested in information on how to quit tobacco use on their
own. It is provided to patients through in-patient and
out-patient level. Please click here to print
a copy.
Quit-line
Card
The Quit-line card is convenient, easy to carry, and provides
information on the Louisiana tobacco quit-line. The Quit-line, at
1-800-QUIT-NOW, provides free and confidential cessation advice to
support Louisiana residents, ages 15 and older, ready to quit smoking.
Certified counselors are available to help callers kick the habit and
improve their quality of life. It is provided to patients through
in-patient and out-patient level.
Behavioral
Counseling
Group
For smokers who are ready to quit, group behavioral counseling sessions
are led by certified counselors. The sessions consist of 2 two hour
sessions over 2 weeks (held on Tuesday’s). Group size is
generally 8 to 10
participants. Sessions cover developing quit plans, obtaining social
support, stress management techniques, diet and nutrition information,
and medication assistance. New sessions begin each month and are
offered morning, noon and evening times. For specific session
times at your facility, contact your on-site TCI staff member.
Quit-line
Assistance
The Louisiana Quit-line is operated by the American Cancer Society and
funded by The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living. Callers
to the 1-800-QUIT-NOW number receive confidential medical advice and
support from certified counselors available. Counselors
help callers develop personalized quit plans by providing the following
information 1) materials based on their interest in smoking cessation
and readiness to quit, 2) referrals to free group counseling, and 3)
proactive telephone counseling for callers ready to quit.
Callers may receive up to five callbacks from counselors to help them
stay on track, and pregnant smokers may receive up to eight
callbacks. When service to the Quit-line is not available,
smokers can call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345
(1-800-227-2345) to learn about the benefits of tobacco cessation or to
find where to get help in their area. This assistance is provided
at both the in-patient and out-patient level.
Pharmacotherapy
Assistance
IMPORTANT
NOTE: This is a summary of pharmacotherapy information was
obtained from the Medscape website (www.medscape.com). This
summary does not contain all possible information about the products
listed. This summary is for informational purposes only, and is not
intended to be taken as expert medical advice.
PARTICIPATION
NOTE: You must be an LSU patient to receive the medication at a
discounted price. However Medicaid and private insurance
participants can be assessed for medication and receive a prescription,
but not at the LSU patient rates. Actually if the patient has
Medicaid it’s cheaper than LSU’s rate and of course private insurance
varies in coverage.
The only NRT medication offered through this program is Nicoderm
patches.
Varenicline
Varenicline (also referred to as Chantix) is an FDA approved medication
used in combination with a stop-smoking program (e.g., education
materials, support group, counseling) to aid quit smoking attempts. It
may work by blocking nicotine's actions in the brain. Varenicline is
available free or at low cost for qualifying patients in the public
hospital system. Prescribing information is as follows:
Chantix:
Day 1-3: 0.5 mg once daily; Day 4-7: 0.5
mg twice daily; Day 8-end of 12 week treatment: 1mg twice daily.
Nicotine
Replacement Therapy
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is approved by the FDA (i.e. gum,
patch, nasal spray, lozenge, and vapor inhaler). NRT products
provide a steady, controlled dose of nicotine throughout the day,
thereby reducing the effects of nicotine withdrawal. Strength is
reduced over time, allowing the user to wean off of nicotine gradually.
Nicotine patches are available free or at low cost for qualifying
patients in the public hospital system. Prescribing information is as
follows:
For
greater than 10 cigarettes apply 1 patch
(21mg) Transdermal route once daily for 2 weeks;
For less
than 10 cigarettes apply 1 patch (14mg)
Transdermal route once daily for 2 weeks.
Bupropion
Bupropion (also referred to as Wellbutrin and Zyban) is an FDA approved
medication used to treat depression. It may work by improving
mood and feelings of well-being, and by helping to restore the balance
of certain natural chemicals (neurotransmitters) in the brain.
Bupropion is also used to help people quit smoking by decreasing
cravings and nicotine withdrawal effects. As a quit smoking aid, TCI
encourages use in combination with a stop-smoking program (e.g.,
education materials, support group, counseling) to aid quit smoking
attempts. Bupropion is available free or at low cost for qualifying
patients in the public hospital system. Prescribing information
is as follows:
Wellbutrin
SR: 1 Q Day X3 Days, then 1 PO BID 150
mg, #120, no refills
Wellbutrin
XL: 1 Q Day X3 Days, then 1 PO BID 300
mg, #120, no refills
Click
here for a
chart to find out more information on these and other
drugs used to treat tobacco use and dependency. This assistance
is provided at both the in-patient and out-patient level.
In-patient
Bedside Consultation
Smoking counseling is available at the bedside hospitalized in-patients
who use tobacco. Certified counselors provide several treatment options
to patients interested in quitting, helping them take the appropriate
steps toward success. Consultations include self-help material,
invitation to group counseling, facilitated access to the Louisiana
quit-line service (proactive telephone counseling via faxed referral),
pharmacotherapy options, and/or viewing a smoking cessation video.
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