Quit Tobacco Services

Our Tobacco Cessation Specialists offer free quit tobacco services to community members and businesses in the counties of Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee and Sarasota.

Participants are self-referred or are referred by health care providers in our service area.  We have partnerships with DeSoto Memorial Hospital, Manatee County Rural Health Services, the Healthy Start Coalitions in Charlotte, Manatee and Sarasota Counties and the health departments in all four counties.
 

Tools to Quit and Quit Smoking Now

We offer two options for people who want to attend a quit smoking group or a class: Tools to Quit and Quit Smoking Now. 

Both programs offer education on the health effects related to tobacco use, but more importantly, they teach the benefits of quitting and what to expect when quitting.  A trained Tobacco Cessation Specialist guides participants as they identify triggers and withdrawal symptoms, and brain storm ways to cope with them.  Topics include:

  1. Addiction, withdrawal and medications

  2. Planning for the quit date

  3. Dealing with triggers

  4. Overcoming cravings

  5. Relapse prevention

The Tools to Quit program is a one-time, intense 90-minute seminar in which participants receive information on how to select and prepare for their own quit date.

The Quit Smoking Now program contains the same information as above delivered over a six-week period.  In the Quit Smoking Now groups, all participants quit the day of the third meeting. 

Both programs include written materials, a bag of goodies for their quit day, and follow-up support.

Click here for a detailed description of both programs.

Call us at 877-848-6696 for more information or to register for a group or class, or click here to see a calendar of upcoming quit smoking groups and seminars. 

 

Worksite Wellness Programs

Providing tobacco cessation resources to employees is one of the most responsible, cost effective wellness initiatives a business or organization can implement.  We understand that the needs of businesses and organizations vary, so several options are available for employers who are interested in providing free tobacco cessation resources to their employees. More information and FAQs can be found here.

 

Florida State QuitLine

The Florida State QuitLine also offers telephone counseling to those unable to attend a class or seminar.  Call 1-877-822-6669 to be connected to a counselor from the convenience of your home.  Counseling is also available in Spanish. 

 

Sponsored by Gulfcoast South AHEC and the State of Florida, Department of Health.


Contact Us:

 

Karla Brody
Tobacco Cessation Specialist
kbrody@health.usf.edu

Xenia Rosado-Merced
Tobacco Cessation Specialist
xrosadom@health.usf.edu

Upcoming Quit Groups

 

Full Calendar of Classes/Groups

 

Resources