Kick the Nic in 2026: 14.9% of Pa. residents still use tobacco or nicotine products, and they can quit in the year ahead
Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in Pennsylvania killing
22,010 people each year. While it’s best to quit as early as possible, quitting tobacco and nicotine products at any age will enhance the length and quality of your life.
“In our state, 14.9% adults smoke and 17% of high school students use a tobacco product,” said Elizabeth Hensil, the director of advocacy with the American Lung Association in Pennsylvania. “We know that breaking the addiction to nicotine is extremely difficult. For most people, it takes multiple attempts to quit tobacco for good. Each quit attempt brings a person closer to reaching their goal. It is critical that people who are ready speak with their healthcare provider about Food and Drug Administration-approved tobacco treatment medications, coupling them with proven effective cessation programs to quit.”
The American Lung Association offers a free Lung Helpline to help people get started on their journey to quit. People can call 1-800-LUNGUSA to connect with a licensed registered nurse, respiratory therapist or certified tobacco treatment specialist. Services to help people quit nicotine and tobacco are available for adults and also teens ages 13 and up. The Lung Helpline also offers programs to employers to help their employees quit.
In addition, the Lung Helpline can help assist with information about lung cancer screening if they are eligible, help navigate insurance challenges, and connect people with Lung Health Navigators who specialize in lung cancer, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pulmonary fibrosis.
For more information about quitting tobacco, visit the American Lung Association website at Lung.org or call the Lung HelpLine at 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) and press 2. Most health insurance covers medications and counseling to help you quit. If you don’t have insurance, check out your coverage options through Healthcare.gov or Pennie.gov – open enrollment runs through Jan. 15. For more information, visit Lung.org/openenrollment.
