Smoking: Can you quit for just one day?

  • Published
  • By Shari Lopatin
  • TriWest Healthcare Alliance
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Smoking can be just as addictive as using heroin or cocaine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

So making the decision to quit--even for just a day--is no small task. However, did you know that the CDC lists smoking as the leading cause of preventable death in the United States? If you quit smoking, you could extend your life by 14 years.

Quit One Day for the Great American Smokeout!
Do you think you can quit for one day? Just one?

That's all the Great American Smokeout asks you to do! This year, the Smokeout will take place on Thursday, Nov. 17. If you participate, you will be required to quit smoking for one day, alongside thousands of other smokers.

Are you up for the challenge?

TRICARE Covers Counseling to Quit
If you can quit for one day, maybe you can quit for longer. Because smoking is so addictive, it'd be wise to get some help.

"Proven cessation treatments can help smokers ease withdrawal symptoms and succeed in quitting. And many smokers still manage to quit 'cold turkey' simply by trying," says the CDC on its website.

If you're a TRICARE beneficiary and not eligible for Medicare, TRICARE may cover smoking cessation counseling for you. You don't need to have a smoking-related illness to use this benefit. The following are counseling requirements:

· Counseling must be through a TRICARE-authorized provider.
· The provider must be working within the scope of their licensure or certification.
· Counseling may be received in any TRICARE-authorized outpatient facility, as long as the provider is TRICARE-authorized and properly certified.


For more information on quitting smoking, visit triwest.com/tobacco.