Northern Kentucky Health Department

Smoking Cessation

Benefits of Quitting
Tobacco dependence is a chronic condition that often requires repeated intervention and multiple attempts to quit; however, effective treatments exist that can significantly increase rates of long-term abstinence. It is never too late to stop using tobacco and there are immediate health benefits from quitting; those benefits continue for years after quitting.

  • 20 minutes after quitting the heart rate drops

  • 12 hours after quitting carbon monoxide level in the blood drops to normal

  • 2 weeks to 3 months after quitting heart attack risk begins to drop and lung function begins to improve

  • 1 to 9 months after quitting coughing and shortness of breath decrease

  • 1 year after quitting the risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker

  • 5 – 15 years after quitting the risk of stroke is reduced to that of a nonsmoker

  • 10 years after quitting the lung cancer death rate is about half that of a smoker’s.

  • 15 years after quitting the risk of coronary heart disease is back to that of a nonsmoker.

Cooper-Clayton Program: In Person
The Cooper Clayton Method to Stop Smoking is a free group support smoking cessation program provided by the Health Department, St. Elizabeth Hospital, St. Elizabeth Physicians, and the Kentucky Cancer Program. Groups meet for 1 hour an evening for 13 weeks and are led by a trained facilitator. Each week there is a short video clip followed by group discussion. Participants are responsible for purchasing the nicotine patch, gum or other cessation aid if they choose to use them, but are not required to. Sessions held three times a year, with classes starting in September, January and April. Please check this Web page in the future for information on upcoming classes.

Cooper-Clayton Program: Online
The Cooper Clayton Method to Stop Smoking is also available online. The free online course started in January and is be offered on a rolling basis. Participants in the Web-based class need access to a computer capable of accessing the Internet. Participants can join at any time, and the course materials can be accessed at any time.  A facilitator will be online for live chats each week from 6 to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and 12 to 1 p.m. on Wednesdays for additional support. Registration is required. Learn more and register.

Find Help Quitting on Facebook
The Health Department's smoking cessation program has launched a Facebook page. From the page, you can learn more about the health benefits of smoke-free air and resources to help you quit smoking.

Tobacco Quitline
1-800-QUIT NOW is a statewide telephone service that will provide brief intervention and support for people who want to stop smoking or using other tobacco products. Callers, both smokers and nonsmokers, can receive information about tobacco dependence and treatment options. Tobacco cessation counselors will staff phone lines Monday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. Eastern Standard Time.  This program is available in Northern Kentucky through the Kentucky Department for Public Health's Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program. For more information, please read the fact sheet on the quit line in English or Spanish (note Adobe Acrobat is required to read the fact sheet)

Make Yours a Fresh Start Family
This free program
is intended to raise awareness about the risks of tobacco and secondhand smoke by targeting pregnant women and mothers of young children It's offered at the Health Department's county health centers--call for details.

Smoke-Free Savings Calculator

Other links

Become an EX Campaign
Kentucky Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program
Smokefree Teen
 

Kenton County's Smoke-Free Law: Main page