Quit Support

Woman applying nicotine patch to her left shoulder, looking down at her shoulder.


Quitting nicotine

Now more than ever, support is available to help you, a loved one, a student, or a patient quit nicotine. Free quit support from tobacco treatment specialists and getting recommended quit medicines through your health care provider can make quitting easier.



Young family looking joyous, two kids on the shoulders of the couple. "Kick it California"


Free quit support

Visit kickitca.org (kickitca.org/es for Spanish) to learn about free quit coaching by phone, text messages, and more. This program has specially designed options for people quitting all types of tobacco and nicotine.

Visit Kick it CA

See other no-cost quit programs.



Low- and no-cost quit medicines

FDA-approved quit medicines help ease the discomfort of nicotine withdrawal, making quitting easier. Quit medicines (often patches, gum, or lozenges) improve your chances of quitting and are covered by insurance, including Medi-Cal (CenCal) when prescribed by your provider. Support is available to help you get connected to low- and no-cost insurance.

Reduce the medicine over several weeks to help your brain adjust to living without nicotine.

Ask your provider about quit medicines.





Supporting youth

Teens can also benefit from coaching and quit medicines. Medicines are available to teens only by prescription from their healthcare provider and is covered by insurance, including Medi-Cal.

Free coaching programs for youth are available: see the recommended programs in our Youth Cessation Guide.

Learn more about helping youth quit nicotine

Learn about the local initiatives empowering teens and schools to be vape free:

"Live Vape Free" logo"Teach Vape Free" logo


Support for Cal Poly Students

Cal Poly Campus Health & Wellbeing provides on-campus support groups and personalized one-on-one nicotine cessation support through Mustangs for Recovery. The most effective way to quit nicotine is by combining support services with quit medications. Students can purchase nicotine patches and gum at a reduced rate directly from the Cal Poly Campus Pharmacy.

Campus Health & Wellbeing


Crowd of Cal Poly students cheering at an outdoor event.


Young woman doctor with curly brown hair and glasses reading from a tablet device.


For healthcare providers

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that pediatricians consider NRT for youth who are moderately to severely addicted to nicotine and show interest in quitting.

Clinicians can use the youth cessation app to deliver the Ask-Counsel-Treat model during a clinical encounter. The web app can be used on a computer, tablet, or smartphone.

Youth Cessation App

See more guidance for providers about treatment and prescribing nicotine replacement therapy.


Questions?

Public Health's tobacco control team is here to help. Call 805-781-5564 or email [email protected].


FAQs

Yes, programs from non-profits, state, and national organizations provide free quit support and coaching. See our recommended no-cost quit programs. 

Yes! Quitting nicotine can significantly improve your health, even after years of use. Your body begins to heal almost immediately—within days, blood pressure and lung function start to improve, and your risk for heart disease, stroke, and cancer decreases over time. The longer you stay nicotine-free, the greater the health benefits.
Yes, quitting nicotine does get easier over time. Withdrawal symptoms and cravings are usually most intense in the first few days to weeks, but they gradually fade as your brain adjusts to functioning without nicotine. Quit medicines can help you successfully quit and help you get through the tough times.
We refer SLO County residents to Kick It California for free, confidential, personalized quit support with help from quit coaches through phone, text messages, and a mobile app. The program is designed to help you quit smoking, vaping, and smokeless nicotine products. Contact Kick It California:

English:
  • Call 800-300-8086
  • Text "Quit Smoking" or "Quit Vaping" to 66819
  • Visit KickItCA.org to learn more
Spanish:
  • Call 800-456-6386
  • Text "dejar de fumar" or "no vapear" to 66819
  • Visit KickItCA.org/es to learn more
Kick It California is available in seven different languages. Call 800-300-8086 and ask for someone who speaks your preferred language.

See other no-cost quit programs.
You can get free or low cost quit medicine, including nicotine replacement therapy—like patches, gum or lozenges, through your health insurance. Ask your doctor for a prescription to get it covered through insurance. Individuals 18 years and older may also purchase nicotine replacement therapy over the counter.
Nicotine typically stays in your body for 1 to 3 days after your last use, but its byproduct, cotinine, can remain detectable in your system for up to 10 days or longer depending on the type of test and individual factors like metabolism.
Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) provides a low, controlled dose of nicotine without the harmful chemicals found in tobacco products. NRT helps reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings, making it easier to quit. Common forms of NRT include patches, gum, lozenges, inhalers, and nasal sprays. Learn more about quit medicine, including NRT.
Quitting nicotine is hard because it affects both your brain chemistry and behavioral habits, creating a strong physical and psychological dependence. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance that triggers the release of dopamine in the brain, leading to pleasurable feelings and physical dependence. Additionally, smoking often becomes a habitual behavior linked to specific times, places, and activities, making it challenging to break the routines associated with it. Learn more on why quitting smoking is hard.