Health: Save Lungs — and Bucks — With Free Quit-Smoking Kits

Of course you know: Smoking is bad for you. But with taxes looming, layoffs left and right, and that big Christmas shopping bill to pay off, the mounting stress could cause you to reach for a smoke.

But the Pennsylvania’s Department of Health is so set on saving your lungs they’re giving away a limited number of free nicotine replacement therapy kits, starting on February 2nd. All you have to do is call the toll-free Quitline (1-800-QUIT NOW), answer a few Qs to make sure you’re healthy enough to start and give them a concrete Quit Date — the day you promise to toss those cancer sticks out the window. What’s the catch? No biggie: Callers must enroll in a free cessation program with the Quitline. The program ranges from three to six phone sessions that last about 15 minutes, where you’ll learn tools to deal with cravings and stress-inducing situations.

“People need to keep trying,” says Steve Riley, on behalf of the Department of Health. “In the vast majority of cases, it takes multiple quit attempts before long-term or permanent cessation is achieved.”