North Carolina State Health Plan Supports Members
Affected by Smoking Ban
To support North Carolina State Health Plan members affected
by the January 1, 2008 smoking ban in North Carolina government buildings
and facilities, the State Health Plan offers free over-the-counter generic
nicotine patches to members. The new legislation, effective January 1, 2008,
prohibits smoking in all buildings owned or leased by state government.
To receive free nicotine patches, State Health Plan members must receive
counseling from their health care provider or take advantage of free tobacco
cessation support services available through the NC Quitline. The State
Health Plan offers this support to all members who want to quit smoking or
quit using smokeless tobacco.
"The State Health Plan would like to reinforce its support for members who
want to quit tobacco," said Sherry Hay, director of integrated health
management for the State Health Plan. "Research shows that counseling,
combined with medication, increases the likelihood that an individual will stop
smoking."
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cigarette
smoking remains the leading preventable cause of death in the United States,
accounting for approximately one of every five deaths each year. In 2006,
according to the North Carolina Center for Health Statistics, there were over
1.5 million (22.7 percent) adult smokers in North Carolina, which is higher than
the national average of 20.1 percent.
Smoking cessation has major and immediate benefits for smokers of all ages,
according to the CDC. Within 20 minutes of a smokers' last cigarette, the
body begins a series of positive health changes that continue for years. After
one year of quitting cigarettes, the excess risk of heart disease caused by
smoking is reduced by about one-half. In five to 15 years, the risk of stroke
for former smokers returns to the level of those who have never smoked.
Due to the significant health benefits of tobacco cessation, the State Health
Plan provides resources to encourage members to quit smoking. For more
information, visit the State Health Plan Web site,
www.shpnc.org/wellness.html. Contact the NC Quitline by calling 1-800-QUIT-
NOW (1-800-784-8669).
