HARRISBURG PA – The nearly 15 percent of Pennsylvania residents who use tobacco or nicotine-related products may see the arrival of the New Year as a good time to quit both. For those who hope to hit the goal, the state chapter of the American Lung Association says it is ready to offer help.
The association on Friday (Dec. 26, 2025) announced a new campaign called “Kick the Nic in 2026.” Because “nicotine is extremely additive,” it says, free resources and support are being provided “to help people quit tobacco and nicotine products for good.” They include cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and nicotine pouches.
Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in Pennsylvania, killing 22,010 people each year, according to the association. “While it’s best to quit as early as possible,” it says, “quitting tobacco and nicotine products at any age will enhance the length and quality of your life.”
Elizabeth Hensil, the association’s state director of advocacy, acknowledges that “for most people, it takes multiple attempts to quit tobacco for good. Each quit attempt brings a person closer to reaching their goal.”
People ready to quit should talk with their healthcare providers, she adds, about “approved tobacco treatment medications, and effective cessation programs, to quit.”
Photo by Ricardo IV Tamayo on Unsplash, used under license
Start-To-Stop Help is Free
Free telephone assistance is available to help people start their journey to quit. Call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) to:
- Connect with a licensed registered nurse, respiratory therapist, or certified tobacco treatment specialist;
- Learn more about “quit nicotine and tobacco” programs available for adults, and also teens ages 13 and older;
- Find assistance for employers, with programs to help their employees quit;
- For people who are eligible, find information about lung cancer screening;
- Get help navigating insurance challenges; and
- Connect people with lung health navigators who specialize in lung cancer, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pulmonary fibrosis.
Most health insurance covers medications and counseling to help quit, the association reports. For those who lack insurance, it advises they check coverage options at the Healthcare.gov or Pennie.com websites.
Our “Local News” reporting includes Healthy Living articles about healthcare, wellness, medical providers, and medical services within, or that affect residents of, Montgomery, Berks, and Chester PA counties. Find more health-related articles here. Also, see and follow the Pottstown Health page on Facebook.
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