Providing your employees with stop-smoking tablets information to help them quit will not only benefit their health, but will also benefit the financial well-being of your business. The Centers for Disease Control indicate that smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, taking more than 440,000 lives each year. One out of every four individuals smoke, which means that one out of every four of your employees smoke or live with someone who does.

It's estimated that employers lose nearly $10,000 per year for each smoker they employ. Studies show that individuals are more likely to quit smoking and avoid relapse when organizations and employers set guidelines and goals and provide some form of compensation as motivation. When providing stop-smoking tablets information to an employee, mention the following statistics for added motivation:

1. Tobacco use is a leading cause of lung cancer, throat cancer, mouth cancer and heart disease; a few hundred dollars worth of stop smoking tablets can save a life.

2. One of every two lifetime smokers will die because of their habit, and often before middle age; startling facts like this make it easy to get employees to try quit-smoking tablets.

3. A non-smoker’s exposure to secondhand smoke increases his risk of heart disease by 25 to 30 percent and lung cancer by 20 to 30 percent.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Furnish employees with information on a stop-smoking tablets provider

It takes up to 12 weeks for the use of nicotine tablets, also known as lozenges, to curb the craving to smoke. Smokers use a lozenge when they have a craving, up to 20 times a day, and the general result is that the tablets slowly wean the smoker from his addiction to nicotine. The number of lozenges needed by the employee to get through the day will gradually decrease.

I recommend: Drugstore.com provides a thorough stop-smoking tablets list, including various flavors and package sizes. Find stop-smoking tablets, lozenges, and gum at AmericaRx.com.

Explain the correct usage of quit-smoking tablets

When used correctly, stop-smoking tablets can be an effective cessation mechanism. The benefits of nicotine gum include quick satisfaction of craving and the ability to keep your mouth busy, satisfying both the habit and addiction aspects of smoking. However, if an individual chews the lozenge like candy, failing to make it stationary between the cheek and gums, it may cause nausea and hiccups. Additionally, lozenges can cause throat or gum irritation. Your employee should consult a doctor if, after 12 weeks of using the tablets, she still has the urge to smoke.

I recommend: Obtain further information regarding the proper usage, benefits and precautions associated with nicotine lozenges from Medline Plus and the American Lung Association.

Get support for employees in addition to the help of stop-smoking tablets

While you may be willing to get your employee started, you won't be able to do all the work for her. Motivation through incentives and cessation programs are helpful, but the most important element is encouragement and a support system. There are a number of additional resources available, but you should also do what you can to get friends and family members on board. The stronger the support system your employee has, the better the chance that she will succeed.

I recommend: Smokefree.gov provides expert support and stop smoking advice from counselors through email, telephone or online chat. Newsletters, stop smoking information and interactive support resources are available on QuitSmokingSupport.com.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Remember that smokers have a physical addiction to nicotine. It's not easy to stop smoking, even with stop smoking tablets. Be patient and have reasonable expectations of your employees.