THE IQUIT WITH AHEC FLORIDA NETWORK

The Area Health Education Center (AHEC) provides free tobacco cessation services in your area. The overall goal of the AHEC Tobacco Training & Cessation Program known as the IQUIT Program, is to strengthen the capacity of Florida’s healthcare system to deliver effective evidence-based tobacco use treatment, and prevention services throughout the state. The Program is founded upon the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs in the following areas:

• Educating and Training Health Professions Students
• Offering Continuing Education to Practicing Health Professionals
• Providing Cessation Services for Tobacco Users
• Putting the Clinical Practice Guidelines for Treating Tobacco

IQUIT PROGRAM OPTIONS – TOOLS TO QUIT AND QUIT SMOKING NOW

Both programs offer education on the health effects related to tobacco use, but more importantly, they teach the benefits of quitting and what to expect when quitting. A Tobacco Cessation Specialist or trained facilitator guides participants as they identify triggers and withdrawal symptoms, and brainstorm ways to cope with them.

Topics include: a) Addiction, withdrawal and medications that help, b) Planning for the quit date, c) Dealing with triggers, d) Overcoming cravings and e) Relapse prevention

The Tools to Quit Program is 2-hour seminar where participants learn how to develop a successful quit plan.

The Quit Smoking Now program meets once a week for six weeks. Participants offer each other support as they go through the quit process.

Both programs offer free nicotine replacement therapy (while supplies last), educational materials, goodies for their quit day, and follow-up support. We like to have patients referred who are ready to quit within the next 30 days.