Living Tobacco-Free Program

Mass General Living Tobacco-Free is a program of Community Health Associates at Massachusetts General Hospital, a division of the Center for Community Health Improvement. Our clients are the communities and individuals served by the Mass General health centers in Charlestown, Chelsea, Everett and Revere.

Thinking about quitting smoking or other tobacco products? We can help!

• Call us at 781-485-6210. We offer, education, resources and coaching to help you quit or cut down to quit. We work with people who smoke cigarettes, vape nicotine, or use other products like chew, cigars, or shisha.  They all contain the addictive chemical, nicotine.
• Even if you're not ready to quit, our coaches will answer any questions you have about tobacco, nicotine addiction, quitting, or medications. They can also help you figure out what’s standing in your way.
• If you’re ready to quit, we can offer you free, one-on-one coaching and coordinate with your doctor if you choose to use a quit-medication to help you.

Using coaching plus a quit-medication more than doubles your chances of quitting for good.

How a quitting coach can help you

You can call us just for information.

Call us with any questions you have about smoking, vaping or quitting any kind of tobacco product. We can explain why it’s so hard to quit and how your body and mind react when you try to quit. We can talk with you about different quit-medication choices, explain how they work, the correct way to use them, and how they can help you.

We can also work together over a longer period. It depends on what you want. Initial and follow-up appointments are FREE with no co-pay. If you are thinking about quitting, we can help you decide. If you want to quit or cut down to quit, we can help you make a plan and put the plan into action.

• At your first appointment:Your coach understands you are unique, and you’ll be in a caring and supportive environment. Your coach will learn about you and how using tobacco products affect your life. You’ll learn more about nicotine addiction. Together, you’ll set your goals and make a plan to reach them, one step at a time.
• Follow-up appointments: Weekly or as you need. Your coach will want to help you along the way.

How to make an appointment

You can ask your Mass General doctor for a referral to our program or you can call us directly. To schedule an appointment directly, please call our program’s telephone number: 781-485-6210.

We offer coaching in English and Spanish and use interpreter services for other languages.

During Covid-19, all our appointments will take place over the telephone or by video call. When it is safe for all patients and staff, we will resume in-person appointments at MGH Health Centers and continue to offer telephone and video appointments.

In-person appointments may be offered at the Mass General health centers in Charlestown, Chelsea, Everett, Revere (Ocean Avenue) and Revere (Broadway).

Our work toward a tobacco-free generation

Living TOBACCO-FREE wants to keep the next generation tobacco-free. Tobacco use comes with a deadly price tag. Cigarette smoking alone kills more than 480,000 adults a year in the United States and 9,000 adults a year in Massachusetts. Smoking among Massachusetts residents is directly responsible for $4.08 billion each year in annual health care costs.

To help ensure the next generation doesn’t bear the burdens of tobacco, Living Tobacco-Free educates youth and young adults about smoking and tobacco in all its forms, including e-cigarettes and vaping.  We also work for positive changes in state laws and local health regulations.

Educating youth about vaping and tobacco

Living Tobacco-Free educates youth by working with community coalitions, youth groups and school health staff. We teach young people that tobacco products contain nicotine, are highly addictive and are harmful to their health. We tell them the truth about big tobacco companies: how they spend millions of dollars every day trying to gain new young customers and market sweet, cheap, and addictive products to attract them.

Advocacy

Living Tobacco-Free works with community and the state-wide groups to advocate for changes in laws and regulations that make it easier for young people to stay away from tobacco products, including vapes.

Information and help

Living Tobacco-Free can help youth who want to quit smoking, vaping or using other tobacco products.  We will connect youth to resources that are right for them. If you or your organization would like information or help regarding youth and tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and vaping devices, email Jonina Gorenstein at jtgorenstein@partners.org.