What Is a Comprehensive Cessation Benefit?

In the U.S. Public Health Service’s Clinical Practice Guideline called Treating Tobacco
Use and Dependence,8 it recommends seven medications and three types of counseling
that are scientifically-proven to be effective in helping smokers quit. The Guideline, updated in 2008, is a review of decades of research on tobacco cessation, and is widely regarded as the definitive report on effective methods of treating tobacco users.

The medications listed in the box to the left are all recommended in the Guideline to fight the physical aspect of the tobacco addiction. The Guideline also states that these medications are most effective when paired with counseling, which helps smokers overcome the social and behavioral aspects. Counseling is the only treatment option for some smokers who should not take cessation medications (like some pregnant women or people with medical contra-
indications), and is effective on its own or paired with medication. The Guideline recommends three types of intensive counseling: individual (face-to-face), group, and phone. Effective cessation counseling incorporates social support and addresses practical coping and problem-solving skills.

Individual counseling can be delivered by a physician, dentist, nurse, or other clinician, as well as tobacco treatment specialist. Group counseling can and does occur in many different settings—often clinics or classes are run out of large physician practices, hospitals, community centers, religious institutions or workplaces. Phone counseling is provided in every state through state quitlines (reachable through 1-800-QUIT-NOW). Additionally several national organizations
operate quitlines for smokers across the country (including the American Lung Association’s Lung Helpline, 1-800-LUNG-USA). Some employers and insurance companies provide other phone counseling services to their employees and members.