Philadelphia offering free nicotine patches

Philadelphia is offering assistance for people who want to start their New Year’s resolution early.  45 hundred free nicotine patch kits are available at no charge for those looking to kick the habit.

Health Commissioner Dr. Donald Schwartz says the patch is an effective tool for those who want to quit.

“The fact is that most smokers want to quit  we know it’s harder to quit on your own, many people have tried to quit and have been unsuccessful,” says Schwartz.  “We know that about 30 percent or three in 10 adults in Philadelphia are currently smokers, we want them to be able to successfully stop smoking.”

Stacy Thomas is a Secession Counselor at the University of Pennsylvania.  She says the patch does help smokers quit.

“People always tell me if it weren’t for our classes and the NRT we provide they probably wouldn’t have a great success rate,” she says.

The city is spending about a quarter million dollars in federal stimulus money on the patches.

If you want to obtain a kit you can call the state hotline 1-800-quit now.