Ready to Quit Smoking?

We often have more control over our health than we realize. Quitting smoking is one of the most significant changes a person can make to their health, especially in preparation for surgery. It is never too late to stop using tobacco. Although it can be difficult for smoking and tobacco users to quit, we want to provide resources to help you reach your goals. 

Benefits of quitting

There are many physical and psychological benefits to stopping tobacco use, including:

  • A better chance of successful treatment
  • Fewer and less serious side effects from all types of surgery
  • Faster recovery from treatment
  • Lower risk of infection
  • Easier breathing
  • More energy
  • Better quality of life

Continuing to use tobacco has the following risks:

  • Less chance of successful treatment
  • More complications from surgery, such as side effects involving the heart and lungs, and a slower recovery 
  • Reduces your ability to carry oxygen to tissues that need it, which slows healing and promotes infection

For patients needing surgery, taking steps to be as healthy as possible before their procedure tends to produce better outcomes and shorter recovery times.

How to quit smoking and using tobacco

A variety of treatments and resources are available to help you stop using tobacco, including medications and counseling.  Your chances of successfully quitting are greater if you have a comprehensive plan that includes a quit date, meeting with a psychologist, and developing strategies to deal with triggers or situations that cause you to use tobacco.

Tobacco cessation treatment

Saint Luke’s has licensed psychologists who will work with you to develop a plan to cut back or quit tobacco use. The psychotherapy sessions will cover topics such as:

  • Preparing to quit
  • Setting a quit date
  • Managing cravings
  • Learning alternative coping strategies to manage stress
  • Preventing relapse

Ask your Saint Luke's provider for a referral to our tobacco treatment program. Schedule an in-person or virtual appointment with one of our psychologists by calling 816-932-4576 option 1.

Tips to help you stop smoking

Watch videos on smoking cessation, including behavioral changes, the effects of e-cigarettes, and helpful medications. 

Community resources for quitting tobacco

Ellis Fischel Cancer Center

Offers virtual group classes on quitting tobacco for Missouri residents. Participants meet weekly for 10 sessions Tuesdays 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. (excluding holiday weeks)

Participants receive support from cessation coaches and peers as they complete the program and develop quit plans.
Free nicotine replacement therapy products (patches, lozenges, or gum) are available.

Sign up online. 

Missouri Tobacco Quit Services

Offers telephone and online counseling with a trained quit coach and resource materials. Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (784-8669) or register online.

Become an Ex

Offers free digital support resources to help tobacco users quit by Truth Initiative and Mayo Clinic.

Learn more about Become an Ex.

Kansas Tobacco Quit Services

Offers telephone and online counseling with a trained quit coach and resource materials. Programs also offer free quit medications. Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (784-8669)or learn more about Kansas Tobacco Quit Services.

MO HealthNet

Offers nicotine replacement therapy products at no cost with a prescription and individual or group counseling.

Contact your primary care provider or call 1-800-392-2161 for more information.

Smokefree TXT

Offers text messaging support for six to eight weeks, depending on your quit date. Participants receive three to five messages per day.

Sign up for Smokefree's text messaging support.

This is Quitting

A text-to-quit vaping service that offers help for teens or young adults to quit vaping and to cope with cravings, stresses, and slips.

Text DITCHVAPE to 88709.