Q. Why should the agency pay for patches and gum as part of a program
A. Offering these name brand products at no cost to the employee has proven to be a powerful incentive to participate. Keep in mind that a program won’t be effective if nobody signs up. This program is especially attractive to lower income level employees who have avoided using these products in the past because of the initial high cost of the products. Additionally, current CDC guidelines on smoking cessation recommend that all quitters be offered smoking cessation medication to minimize nicotine withdrawal symptoms.

Q. Does FOH offer group programs?
A. Yes, however, out of the 8,000 plus employees who have signed up for our programs, only about 40 have participated in group programs. Group programs are effective, especially when combined with the NRT option, but the logistics of arranging groups during work hours and poor sign-up rates have made the individual NRT program the most popular.

Q. Since nicotine patches and nicotine gum are typically used for 8 – 12 weeks during a quit effort, why does FOH suggest the agency only pay for a 4-week supply?
A. We instruct participants that they will have to save the money they were spending on cigarettes during the first 4 weeks of their quit effort and use it to purchase the remaining patches and gum once the agency provided supply is exhausted. Their willingness to do this indicates a commitment to quitting and keeps the cost of the program down for agencies. This allows more participants to sign up for less money. A totally free program is not likely to result in greater quit rates.

Q. Why do some smokers quit successfully but return to smoking later
A. Most smokers who quit for good didn’t reach this goal on their first try. More often it takes several attempts. Our counselors help participants learn from past mistakes. Another common finding is that the smoker can’t quit because they have some other behavior problem that sabotages their efforts to stop. Commonly these are alcohol or other substance abuse issues, or untreated mental health problems. Suggested referrals for EAP assistance are a common occurrence during smoking cessation interviews.

Q. Has FOH encountered any surprises in serving the large number of participants over the past two years?
A. Yes, three come to mind right away.

1. Hundreds of smokers who reported smoking anywhere from 20 to 40 years without ever making an attempt to quit said they signed up for agency sponsored programs because of the offer of four weeks of free patches or gum.
2. FOH’s surveys of our agency customers indicated they had given up on offering smoking cessation assistance because of poor participation in past years. Although funding is often a constraint for agencies, funding programs that didn’t get used or had excessive dropout rates was an even greater problem.
3. To a degree much beyond what was anticipated, great quit rates depend on agency attitude and support for their smoking cessation program as well as enforcement of smoking restrictions. Having an indoor smoking area available for employees almost guarantees mediocre program results.