National Jewish Health issued the following announcement on July 1.
Nearly 5 million teens across the United States are vaping and using tobacco, yet there are few resources available to help them stop. On July 1, 2019, the nation's largest non-profit tobacco quitline provider helping thousands of people quit tobacco every year, National Jewish Health, is launching an enhanced tobacco cessation program for teens who want to stop using tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes or vapes.
The new My Life, My Quit program includes educational materials designed for teens that were created through focus groups with teens, subject matter experts and community stakeholders. Teens can text or call a toll-free number (1.855.891.9989) dedicated specifically for them, or they can visit mylifemyquit.com for real-time online coaching. Through the program, teens work with a coach who listens and understands their unique needs, provides personalized support and helps them build a quit plan to become free from nicotine.
"This comprehensive new program combines the best practices for youth tobacco cessation adapted to include vaping and new ways for teens to reach our quit coaches using real-time text messaging and online chat," said Thomas Ylioja, PhD, clinical director of Health Initiatives at National Jewish Health.
"While there are similarities, the teen quit experience is very different from the adult experience. This program allows us to meet teens where they are, to communicate with them via channels they are comfortable with and to support them through their quit journey," said Dr. Ylioja. "Our coaches emphasize that the decision to quit is personal, and they help teens identify strategies to help them cope with stress, navigate social situations, and support developing a tobacco-free identity."
My Life, My Quit provides youth access to tailored resources for quitting, including:
- Free and confidential help from a quit coach specially trained to listen to teens, and help them navigate social situations that involve tobacco or vaping, and find healthy ways to cope with stress
- Teen-focused messages in promotional and educational materials – created with youth input – that encourage teens to quit vaping or using tobacco
- Five coaching sessions via live text messaging or by phone on a dedicated toll-free number (1.855.891.9989) or online chat
- Simplified online and mobile program registration to get teens to a coach quicker
- Dedicated teen website at mylifemyquit.com with online enrollment, live chat with a coach, information about vaping and tobacco, and activities to support quitting and stress relief
- On-going text messages for encouragement throughout the quit process
- Certificate of program completion
The My Life, My Quit youth cessation program launches July 1, 2019, with nine existing National Jewish Health QuitLogix state partners: Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Utah.
National Jewish Health is the leading respiratory hospital in the nation. Founded 120 years ago as a nonprofit hospital, National Jewish Health today is the only facility in the world dedicated exclusively to groundbreaking medical research and treatment of patients with respiratory, cardiac, immune and related disorders. Patients and families come to National Jewish Health from around the world to receive cutting-edge, comprehensive, coordinated care. To learn more, visit njhealth.org. Members of the news media may visit the media resources page.
