Smoking Cessation Resources

  • Publication date February 21, 2024

Tobacco Cessation Resources and Information 

USC health resources — Tobacco cessation programs of the USC Pharmacies and Faculty Practice of USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy are open to students, faculty and staff, as well as members of the public. If you are a student, your health insurance may be applicable for these services, including the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP/Aetna).

Resources for employees — USC Premier Care , a Keck Medicine of USC health care navigation service available to USC Trojan Care EPO and USC PPO patients,  is providing a free smoking cessation program for USC employees. This program is available to all USC faculty and staff enrolled in any of the following medical plans: USC Trojan Care EPO, Anthem HMO, Anthem MyChoice HMO, and Kaiser HMO. Our experts will help you understand options and develop a personal plan. 
 
General resources — For support in quitting, including free quit coaching, a free quit plan, free educational materials, and referrals to local resources, visit laquits.com or call 1-800-784-8669. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers information to help yourself or help others to cease tobacco product usage.  

Information on USC’s smoke-free campuses 

Smoking is prohibited in all indoor and outdoor facilities on university-owned and leased property with no exception, including within vehicles parked on those properties. For more information, refer to USC’s Smoke-Free Policy. 

Benefits of Quitting

Quitting smoking lowers your risk for smoking-related diseases and can add years to your life. After you smoke your last cigarette, your body begins a series of positive changes that continues for years. 

Facts about reducing your health risks by quitting smoking and tobacco use.
Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Smoking harms nearly every organ of the body, causes many diseases, and reduces the health of smokers in general.
More than 16 million Americans are living with a disease caused by smoking. Additionally, about 54,010 new cases and 10,850 deaths occur yearly from oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer. For every person who dies because of smoking, at least 30 people live with a serious smoking-related illness. We know that adults who smoke have a higher risk of getting sick with pneumonia and having severe illness from infections like the flu or contracting COVID-19.
Smoking also impacts the health and well-being of others. Secondhand smoke exposure contributes to approximately 41,000 deaths among nonsmoking adults and 400 deaths among infants yearly.

If you smoke, the best choice for your lung health and the health of others is to quit.