Smoking Cessation Services

"Quitting smoking is the best thing I could ever have done. I breathe easier, I have more stamina, people notice my skin is clearer and my clothing doesn’t smell." - Eric W., Ochsner Smoking Cessation Program patient 

"When I first explored the program, I discovered there was no condemnation, only respect for my choice for wanting to quit and focus on healthy living." - Sandy F., Ochsner Smoking Cessation Program patient

The Ochsner Smoking Cessation Program began in 2013 as a pilot program at Ochsner Medical Center - New Orleans in collaboration with our primary care physicians. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at the time, smoking rates in Louisiana were among the highest in the country, with more than 26.3% of adults reporting tobacco use.

A grant from The Smoking Cessation Trust allowed Ochsner to scale our services. By the end of 2015, Ochsner operated 15 clinics and guided 4,800 patients toward a tobacco-free life in just one year.

In 2020, Ochsner expanded the program into Monroe, Shreveport, Lake Charles and Lafayette, Louisiana and Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, to serve more communities. That same year, public health data revealed a remarkable shift. According to the Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco Free Living, Louisiana’s smoking rate dropped to 18.3%, showing a massive improvement in state health.

As of 2026, Ochsner's Smoking Cessation Program has helped more than 27,000 unique patients, while maintaining a quit rate of at least 31% success rate at 12 months. This success rate is nearly double the national average of 17% for similar structured programs. It also dramatically outperforms the 3-5% success rate of quitting "cold turkey."

You may qualify for Ochsner's free Tobacco Cessation Program if you are:

• A Louisiana or Mississippi resident
• At least 18 years old
• Interested in products to help you quit tobacco
• Ready to quit tobacco smoking, dipping or vaping

When you quit smoking, your body responds almost immediately. Within minutes, your heart rate and blood pressure decrease. Over time, you’ll experience many more health benefits, including:

• Better lung function
• Improved circulation
• Less coughing and shortness of breath
• Lower risks of heart attack, stroke, diabetes and many types of cancer, including lung cancer

The answer to this question varies from person to person. Not everyone will need to try more than once to quit, but many people do have to make multiple attempts. Experts disagree on the average number of attempts it takes to quit smoking, but smokers may try to quit an average eight to 12 times before succeeding.

Absolutely not. Ochsner's program is meant to help people who currently smoke kick the habit. Ochsner want to help you quit gradually, in a step-down method. You do not need to try to quit cold turkey before starting our program.

Yes. This medication is available at no cost to Ochsner's patients who would benefit from this type of treatment.

Ochsner's program is focused on teaching you to develop behavioral tools that can help you quit smoking.

Vaping has become a popular alternative to smoking tobacco, but vaping is harmful to your health, too. Research shows that vaping contains higher percentages of nicotine than the traditional cigarette. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the strongest cigarettes contain approximately 2% nicotine, but some brands of vapes contain nicotine percentages that range from 3%–5% nicotine.

Additionally, most vapes contain either vegetable glycerin or propylene glycol or a combination of the two to make the vape juices, and both chemicals can lead to lung inflammation and respiratory problems. Many of the chemicals found in vaping products are food grade, but that does not mean they are safe to inhale. Our stomachs have acids to process these chemicals; our lungs do not.

Smoking tobacco, vaping and dipping are responsible for more preventable deaths in the United States than any other cause. Smoking can have head-to-toe health effects and increase your risk for a variety of serious conditions, including:

• Age-related macular degeneration
• Aortic aneurysm
• Cancers of the bladder, cervix, colon and rectum, esophagus, kidneys, liver, lungs, mouth and more
• Cataracts
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Coronary artery disease
• Fertility issues
• Gum disease
• Heart attack
• High blood pressure
• Peripheral vascular disease
• Pneumonia
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Stroke
• Type 2 diabetes

In Ochsner's Tobacco Cessation Program, you’ll work with a certified tobacco treatment specialist who’s overseen by a physician. Ochsner's certified tobacco treatment specialists come from a variety of clinical backgrounds, including respiratory therapy, social work and nursing. To become certified to work with patients who wish to quit tobacco, these specialists completed an intensive, weeklong program, 240 hours of clinical work and passed a national exam.

Ochsner's certified tobacco treatment specialists are passionate about working with patients who want to quit smoking because, in most cases, they know what they’re going through.