Quitline Offers Free Help During Lung Cancer Month
New York's free Quitline provides coaching and nicotine replacement medications to residents trying to stop smoking or vaping during Lung Cancer Awareness Month.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Asthma
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The New York State Quitline is offering free, confidential coaching and free nicotine replacement medications to residents seeking to stop smoking or vaping. The service has distributed more than 30,000 lung cancer screening brochures since June 2025 by including them with medication shipments.
Why it matters
Lung cancer screening eligibility depends on smoking history and recency of quitting, so the brochures aim to connect smokers with screening information alongside cessation support. Access to free coaching and medications may help residents reduce tobacco use across New York State.
The Quitline has answered more than 3 million calls since opening in 2000, and has distributed over 30,000 screening brochures since June 2025. The extraction does not show quit outcomes or screening uptake linked to these services.
The players
New York State Quitline
The New York State Quitline is a free, confidential tobacco cessation service supported by the state Department of Health and based at Roswell Park in Buffalo.
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center is a cancer research and treatment institution in Buffalo that hosts the New York State Quitline.
The details
Residents can reach the Quitline by phone at 1-866-NY-QUITS (1-866-697-8487) seven days a week, through online chat, or by requesting a callback. Adults 18 and older can order free nicotine replacement therapy medications online, and text support is available in English by texting QUITNOW to 333888 and in Spanish by texting DÉJELO YA NY to 333888.
Timeline
June 2025: The Quitline began including lung cancer screening brochures with medication shipments.
2000: The Quitline began operating.
November 2026: Lung Cancer Awareness Month campaign period.
Health Landscape
The New York State Quitline has operated since 2000 and has answered more than 3 million calls, making it one of the longest-running state tobacco cessation services. Pairing cessation help with lung cancer screening information extends that established program into early detection outreach.
Residents who smoke or vape can call, text, or order free nicotine replacement medications without cost. Adults who meet screening criteria may ask a doctor about annual low-dose CT screening for lung cancer.
The takeaway
Free coaching and medications are available to New York residents who want to quit smoking or vaping at any stage. Anyone aged 50 to 80 with a qualifying smoking history should discuss lung cancer screening with a clinician.
Further reading
For related respiratory health coverage, explore more in Asthma.
More information
Find vaping cessation help at DropTheVape.org.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fingerlakes1.
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