Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence Pathfinder Page

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Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence

Evidence-based information on first-line pharmacologic therapies and counseling that help patients quit using tobacco is in Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence, a Public Health Service clinical practice guideline issued in June 2000.

The PHS guideline was developed by a private-sector panel of experts convened by a consortium of Federal and non-Federal partners. The guideline builds on a smoking cessation guideline first issued by the Federal Government in 1996.

The partners that convened the experts included the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the University of Wisconsin Medical School's Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention.

What's New

These nationally recognized tobacco cessation tools are designed to encourage clinicians to help their patients quit using tobacco and adopt a healthier lifestyle. Whether the patient's quit day is linked to the Great American Smokeout or a New Year's resolution, AHRQ offers clinicians and consumers a wide array of evidence-based materials online:

Clinician's Packet—Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence
Consumer Packet—You Can Quit Smoking

How Health Care Providers Can Help

All health care providers, especially those with direct patient contact, have a unique opportunity to help tobacco users quit. Smokers cite a doctor's advice to quit as an important motivator for attempting to stop smoking. Materials to help you help them follow:

Clinical Practice Guideline. Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence (PDF file, 1 MB; Text Version)
Quick Reference Guide for Clinicians. Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence (PDF File, 599 KB, Text Version)
Clinician's Tearsheet (Personalized Quit Plan) (PDF file, 35 KB; Text Version)
Usted puede dejar de fumar (Spanish) (PDF File, 35 KB; Text Version)
Posters (You Can Quit Smoking) (PDF File, 19 KB; Text Version)
Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: Online Continuing Medical Education Course

Help for Tobacco Users

You Can Quit Smoking, Consumer Guide (PDF File, 279 KB, Text Version)
      Usted puede dejar de fumar: Guía del consumidor (Spanish) (PDF File, 278 KB, Text Version)
You Can Quit Smoking, 5-Day Countdown (PDF File, 204 KB, Text Version)
      Prepárese en 5 días para dejar de fumar (Spanish) (PDF File, 206 KB; Text Version)
You Can Quit Smoking, Pocket Card (PDF File, 215 KB, Text Version)
      Usted puede dejar de fumar (Spanish) (PDF file, 217 KB, Text Version)
Good Information for Smokers, Easy-to-Read Consumer Booklet (PDF file, 208 KB, Text Version)
      Información importante para fumadores (Spanish) (PDF File, 221 KB, Text Version)
Help for Smokers: Ideas to Help You Quit
Quitting Helps You Heal Faster, Hospital Card (PDF File, 37 KB, Text Version)
      Dejar de fumar le ayuda a sanar más rápido (Spanish) (PDF File, 38 KB, Text Version)
Quit Smoking Products Ordering Information (PDF File, 121 KB, Text Version)

Pregnant? Want to Quit?

If you're expecting, quitting smoking is the most important thing you can do for yourself and your baby. When you stop using tobacco products, you will have more energy and breathe more easily. Additionally, your baby will get more oxygen and be more likely to be born at a normal weight.

Clinician's Tearsheet, Prenatal (PDF File, 513 KB; Text Version)
Ayuda para los fumadores embarazados (Spanish) (PDF File, 514 KB; Text Version)

How Health Care Systems Can Help

Managed care organizations, hospital administrators, insurers, and health care purchasers are key in implementing a comprehensive means of treating tobacco users. This product looks at the tremendous financial burden of tobacco use on the health care system and why it will take an entire health care system to encourage and support the effective identification and treatment of tobacco users.

Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: A Systems Guide

Want More Information?

In the United States, call the AHRQ Clearinghouse toll-free 800-358-9295, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Hearing impaired persons may call 888-586-6340 for the TDD service. Callers from outside of the United States only should use the telephone number (703) 437-2078.

Send requests by E-mail to ahrqpubs@ahrq.gov.

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