Ebony joined the Tobacco Free Tar Heels program nearly two years ago. At that time, she had cut down on her smoking from more than a pack a day to just a few cigarettes, but she couldn’t seem to quit those last few. Her boyfriend was allergic to cigarette smoke and really didn’t like her smoking. She was thinking about ending the relationship with him in order to continue the relationship with her cigarettes, and she was angry at herself that cigarettes had such a hold on her. Then she heard about our program, Tobacco Free Tar Heels (TFTH), a free program for UNC Health Care employees. TFTH provides assistance for making a quit plan, which may include cessation medications at no charge., as well as weekly follow-up for ongoing support.
Ebony joined the Tobacco Free Tar Heels program nearly two years ago. At that time, she had cut down on her smoking from more than a pack a day to just a few cigarettes, but she couldn’t seem to quit those last few. Her boyfriend was allergic to cigarette smoke and really didn’t like her smoking. She was thinking about ending the relationship with him in order to continue the relationship with her cigarettes, and she was angry at herself that cigarettes had such a hold on her. Then she heard about our program, Tobacco Free Tar Heels (TFTH), a free program for UNC Health Care employees. TFTH provides assistance for making a quit plan, which may include cessation medications at no charge., as well as weekly follow-up for ongoing support.
We discussed the pros and cons of continuing to smoke. She wanted to be healthier, her kids hated her smoking, she didn’t like the way it made her hair and clothes smell, and her boyfriend was allergic. Ebony decided to quit.
She had tried quitting smoking before using medications, but none of them seemed to work for her. She had even tried an e-cigarette, but it caused her to have a seizure, and she could “taste” the battery. The doctor said she had an elevated lithium level, indicating that perhaps the battery was leaking.
We discussed her options for medications, and she chose to use the nicotine lozenge. Because she was a light smoker who did not inhale many milligrams of nicotine, we agreed that the nicotine lozenge would be a good fit for her. We were right—she loved it! Within a few weeks she was 100% tobacco free.
That was almost two years ago, and she is now married to her boyfriend and pregnant with a boy. She remarked that she didn’t even have to think about quitting when she got pregnant because she had already quit! She’s happy, and her kids are happy. She has freedom from thinking about smoking. She said that the program’s support and advice, along with the lozenges, helped her.
If you (or a family member covered by your State Health Plan) are interested in the Tobacco Free Tar Heels program, contact Barbara Silver (919) 445-5358, or www.tobaccofreetarheels@unc.edu.