In support of Lung Cancer Awareness Month, GSK Consumer Healthcare, CVS Health and the American Lung Association’s LUNG FORCE are joining together to help people quit smoking and raise awareness of lung cancer. For every box of Nicorette® or NicoDerm® CQ® purchased at a CVS Pharmacy throughout November, GSK Consumer Healthcare will donate $1 to the American Lung Association’s LUNG FORCE (up to $100,000). All donations will benefit the American Lung Association and its investment in lung cancer research and patient education.
The partnership aims to educate smokers on the importance of quitting smoking with the help of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and behavioral support. Research shows that quitting cold turkey doesn’t work for many smokers – in fact, only 3 to 5 percent of smokers who attempt to quit without support are successful.However, smoking cessation products such as Nicorette® and NicoDerm® CQ® can double a person’s chances of quitting successfully.
“GSK Consumer Healthcare is proud to partner with CVS Health this Lung Cancer Awareness Month to support the American Lung Association and to further our commitment to helping smokers create a successful quit plan,” says James Masterson, Marketing Director, Smokers’ Health, GSK Consumer Healthcare. “We know quitting smoking is not easy, but we encourage smokers to take the first step towards a smoke-free life with the help of Nicorette® and NicoDerm® CQ® and the proper support.”
Smokers can get on track to a healthier life starting with the day they quit. The longer you’ve been tobacco-free, the risk of smoking-related illnesses decreases. In fact, after just ten years of being smoke-free, a former smoker’s risk of dying from lung cancer is about half that of a current smoker’s.
Pairing NRT products with behavioral support increases chances of successfully quitting smoking as they target the physical and psychological (emotional and mental) aspects of tobacco addiction:
- NRT products, such as Nicorette® and NicoDerm® CQ®, help reduce your cravings and withdrawal symptoms while you adjust to a smoke-free life. They work by delivering lower levels of therapeutic nicotine without the 7,000 chemicals found in tobacco smoke.
- CVS MinuteClinic offers a smoking cessation program, which includes a 1-on-1 consultation with a practitioner, an individualized smoking cessation plan and education based on your needs and goals, as well as ongoing coaching and support in your efforts to quit smoking.
- The American Lung Association has been helping people quit smoking for over 35 years through Freedom From Smoking® available at FreedomFromSmoking.org or 1-800-LUNGUSA. Ranked as one of the most effective programs in the country, Freedom From Smoking has helped over a million individuals quit smoking and is available online, in-person and over the phone.
“CVS Health is proud to partner with the American Lung Association and GSK to fight against lung cancer and provide people with the help they need to quit smoking,” said Eileen Howard Boone, Senior Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility and Philanthropy, CVS Health. “We know it can take seven or more tries to quit and as a company that is committed to helping people on their path to better health, we want to provide the support needed and increase awareness of this deadly disease.”
“Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women and men in the United States, and quitting smoking is the best way to reduce your risk of lung cancer,” said American Lung Association National President and CEO Harold P. Wimmer. “We are thankful to GSK Consumer Healthcare for its support of our LUNG FORCE initiative that is leading the way for better lung cancer prevention, early detection and treatments.”
