Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of cancer and is linked to at least 20 cancer types. E-cigarettes remain the most commonly used tobacco product among U.S. youth, and nicotine can harm adolescent brain development. Quitting tobacco at any age reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke, and cancer while improving overall health.
How You Can Take Action: Screen all patients for tobacco and nicotine use at every visit, provide brief cessation counseling, and connect patients to evidence-based tobacco recovery resources and treatment options to support successful recovery. The resources below can help you become a certified tobacco cessation counselor and help you educate your patients about tobacco recovery tools.
Provider Certification and Training Resources:
- PA DOH Tobacco Cessation Registry: Follow the steps at this website for more information on how to get certified: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/health/programs/healthy-living/tobacco-prevention-and-control/registry
- Pennsylvania Statewide Tobacco-Free Recovery Initiative: Register for 2026 training opportunities: https://tobaccofreerecoverypa.com/trainings/
Patient Recovery Resources:
- PA Free Quitline: Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or visit PA QUITLOGIX for free, confidential coaching, quit strategies, and, when available, free nicotine replacement therapy such as patches or gum.
- Smokefree.gov: Provides personalized quit plans, text-message support, and interactive tools to help manage triggers and cravings.
For more information, visit our Smoking Cessation webpage.