Tobacco Cessation
Smoking remains one of the leading preventable causes of premature death in the US. According to the CDC, women of reproductive age who smoke are at increased risk for multiple adverse pregnancy-related health outcomes, including difficulty conceiving, infertility, spontaneous abortion, premature rupture of membranes, low birth weight, neonatal mortality, stillbirth, preterm delivery, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The prevention and reduction of tobacco use among women of reproductive age are essential to reduce the burden of reproductive health complications from smoking and adverse health effects of children's exposure to secondhand smoke, and to improve the life expectancy of the women themselves. A large number of studies have suggested that nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) can double the odds of smoking cessation.
To further increase chances for successful quitting, smokers are encouraged to not only take treatment such as NRT but to participate in counseling services. Effective October 1, 2012, Plan First, Alabama's Medicaid Family Planning Waiver program, will begin to cover certain NRTs and smoking cessation counseling through the Alabama Tobacco Quitline.
If you are currently smoking and would like to quit, talk to your Plan First provider today about participating in the Plan First smoking cessation project.
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Page last updated: May 13, 2021
