I would love to quit but it is cheaper to smoke than to take the patch, the gum, the inhaler, pills, and whatever else is out there.
Unfortunately, I am disabled with chronic pain and my smoking is directly correlated to my pain level. Subsequently, I live on a fixed income, and neither Medicare, nor any health plan, helps to defray a significant part of the costs of the cessation products. They may pay for a part of stop smoking classes BUT only after the fact, which is impossible given my cash flow.
Your figures show that only 5% of people are successful quitting "cold turkey." Help, some health group -- federal, state, or health plans -- should give me a fighting chance in my quest to quit by helping me to afford the products that facilitate that goal.
The states got billions from their settlement with "Big Tobacco," yet many do not even spend the money on smoking related issues since their budgets are in such distress. New York State is a prime example.
Any party with a vested interest in the health of people, and the associated costs, should help people pay for the products NOW because it would reduce their costs down the road -- the whole subject on which the tobacco settlement was predicated.
Give us all, all the possible help available because the odds are against us given the addictiveness of nicotine --heroine uses legally get methadone -- can't we get some patches and gum?
Smoking and dying,
Linton Weber, Philadelphia, PA