Smoking still deadly, costly

A new report lauds Maryland for the steps it takes to help smokers quit, but finds that more needs to be done here and nationwide.

The American Lung Association last week released its annual evaluation of each state's smoking-cessation efforts and, for the second year in a row, found Maryland falling short in some areas.

The organization is pushing for a national prevention and wellness strategy that will help smokers quit and prevent others from starting.

Meanwhile, the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released its own study last week that found the number of U.S. cigarette smokers in 2008 rose slightly for the first time in almost 15 years, coming in at a little less than 21 percent.

Last year, 45 percent of smokers tried to quit, but less than 10 percent were successful, according to the lung association's report. Tobacco kills more than 440,000 Americans each year.

"The addiction to tobacco is extremely deadly and costly," Dr. Norman H. Edelman, the association's chief medical officer, said in a statement. "The single most important thing a smoker can do to improve his or her health is to quit smoking, which may take multiple tries and various treatments to stop using tobacco products for good."

That rings true for Annapolis resident Brenda Jones. She's been trying to quit smoking for the past six months for health reasons. But she said it's hard to kick a habit that she's had since she was 16.

She's taken smoking-cessation classes in the past and, most recently, her doctor gave her a prescription for Chantix, a medicine that can reduce the symptoms suffered by smokers who are trying to quit.

"I haven't started them yet, but I probably smoke more now than I did the first time (before taking classes)," said Jones, 51. "I don't want to do it anymore. I've come to a point where I just don't want to (smoke). And of course, I'm getting older and my doctor's been staying on me about having to stop."

The findings

The American Lung Association report, titled "Helping Smokers Quit: State Cessation Coverage 2009," found that six states offer comprehensive cessation coverage for Medicaid recipients and five provide comprehensive coverage for state employees.

Maryland is listed among seven states with private insurance plans that cover cessation services. The state's Medicaid coverage includes the use of nicotine replacement therapies like the patch, but not inhalers or nasal spray. The terms of coverage on other products vary.

Last year was the American Lung Association's first year reviewing states' cessation plans. At that time, Maryland received an inadequate rating mainly because its Medicaid program provided limited levels of coverage and did not cover the nicotine patch.

Even with those improvements, there have been ongoing challenges in funding anti-smoking efforts. Last year, the state scaled back on the money it was issuing to counties out of its cigarette restitution fund, which was the result of a nationwide court settlement with the tobacco industry.

As a result, the county Heath Department had to slash $600,00 from its budget and reduce smoking-cessation classes and activities.

The department provides programming grants ranging from $3,000 to $9,000 to Owensville Primary Care, Harbor Hospital, Anne Arundel Medical Center and Baltimore Washington Medical Center, depending on the smoking cessation services offered.

Currently, the programs are paid for through the end of the fiscal year - June 30, 2010 - but it is unclear how funding levels will change after that, said Ronna Gotthainer, the department's deputy health officer for operations.

Great Smokeout

In preparation for the Great American Smokeout on Thursday, AAMC officials have posted a series of videocasts on the hospital's Web site to demonstrate the dangers of smoking. The hospital reaches about 120 smokers a year through its cessation classes and also offers a weekly support group for smokers.

About 30 people register for each seven-week cessation class, but program leaders say about a third of them aren't serious about quitting.

"I love experienced quitters, people who have quit several times (and start smoking again)," said nurse Sue Glover, a tobacco treatment specialist at the hospital. "It's like any addiction to a substance. You've got the (discomfort) of having the urge to smoke. Some people get headaches, some people get depressed or feel down because they were using (cigarettes) as a source of comfort. It's normal to feel like you don't have your best friend anymore."

AAMC's videocasts can be viewed at www.aahs.org/media_new/podcasts/wellness_podcasts.php.