Serving all the communities of the Buckeye Lake Region

Help to stop smoking or using tobacco available


 

NEWARK – The Licking County Health Department has begun accepting clients for its tobacco Community Cessation Initiative (CCI). Residents can call (866) 525-2132 to get started.

Knox, Licking and Perry county health departments recently received a three-year tobacco Community Cessation Initiative grant from the Ohio Department of Health.

How does the program work?

It is designed to connect individuals who wish to quit smoking or using other tobacco products with local cessation services. Call (866) 525-2132 or email cci@lickingcohealth.org.

Through the CCI program, cessation services are billed through participants’ private health insurance and/or Medicaid. If cessation services aren’t covered or the participant is uninsured, the program will cover the cost of the counseling services, at no expense to the participant.

Participants also will benefit from a unique relapse management feature. The CCI coordinator will follow up with each participant to help them stay tobacco-free, encourage additional quit attempts and conveniently connect them with additional cessation services if needed.

Although no single characteristic explains a person’s risk for tobacco use, the highest risk populations in Ohio include those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged, those with disabilities or mental health challenges, and those who identify as LGBT.

According to the 2017 Licking County Community Health Assessment, 24 percent of Licking County adults report actively using cigarettes.

Cancer, heart disease, and chronic lower respiratory disease are among the leading causes of death in Licking County and are all causally linked to tobacco use.

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *