But, tobacco dependence is a chronic disease and it deserves treatment like any other chronic disease your patients have. Effective treatments have been identified and really need to be used with every current and former tobacco user. Interventions are the most effective way to reduce illness, prevent death, and increase quality of life.
 

Health care providers need to take advantage of every teachable moment. If, the following intervention is delivered in a timely and effective manner,  it can rapidly reduce the risk of suffering from smoking-related disease

ASK every patient at every visit, including hospital admissions: “Have you used any tobacco product in the past two weeks?”

If they answer “yes,” go to the next step,

ADVISE every tobacco user to quit with a personalized message about the benefits of quitting…

ASSIST every patient who is ready to quit (within the next two to four weeks) by referring them to the Put It Out Rockland Program.

If the patient is not ready to quit at this time, provide informational literature or self help materials that might motivate the patient to think about quitting.

Less than 10 minutes of  your time could increase a person’s chance of quitting by 16%!

Check out all the recommendations in this Quick Reference Guide for Clinicians