Every success story starts with a first step and for Vickie, that step led to a healthier, smoke-free life. Vickie had been trying to stop smoking for years. “I was just tired of it,” she said. “It was getting old, and I was getting old.” Then she was diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), a chronic lung disease that causes airflow obstruction and breathing problems. Vickie decided to take quitting more seriously, for her health. She had tried a handful of different options to quit smoking and none of them worked.
It wasn’t until she found CHC/SEK’s Tobacco Treatment Program that things finally started to change. The Tobacco Treatment Program at CHC/SEK was established in 2019 after receiving a grant from the Kansas Health Foundation. According to Clinical Pharmacy Services Manager Jennelle Knight, PharmD, CDCES, “Our approach gives patients the tools they need to quit,” said Knight. “We combine medication and behavioral strategies to support them every step of the way.” From May 2024 to April 2025, 115 new patients joined the program, and around 19% successfully quit smoking. That’s more than double the national average of 8–9%, according to the Truth Initiative.
Vickie began working with a tobacco treatment specialist and was prescribed Chantix, an FDA-approved tobacco cessation medication, completing 4.5 months in the smoking cessation program. Through those 4.5 months, she began to let go of a habit that had followed her for decades. Slowly, she stopped reaching for a cigarette and started rewarding herself with a new nightly treat: Blue Bell Black Walnut ice cream. “I thought it was wonderful,” she said about the program. “I just gradually stopped. And when I woke up that morning on September 1st, I had a brand-new pack—but I didn’t even open it. I threw it away.” When Vickie threw away her last unopened pack of cigarettes, it marked more than a milestone—it marked a fresh start.
There are several treatment options that CHC/SEK offers that can help you stop using tobacco products. Utilizing FDA-approved medication in addition to counseling can more than double your chances of success. Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is a proven and effective way to stop using tobacco. It works by supplying the body with small doses of nicotine without the harmful chemicals that are found in tobacco. Nicotine is an addictive substance — tobacco contains harmful chemicals. These small doses of nicotine from NRT help reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms associated with stopping the use of tobacco such as smoking, vaping, and chewing. NRT comes in various forms such as gum, lozenges, and patches. There are also non-nicotine oral medications available to reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings. Our tobacco treatment specialists are pharmacists trained to help you pick what may work best for you.
Quitting smoking didn’t just improve her health; it transformed her home and her mindset. “We washed all the walls and repainted the whole house. I was astonished at how much damage smoking did—things ruined from nicotine, things I had to throw away. But it felt good to start fresh.”
When asked what advice she’d give to someone just starting the program or feeling like they’re losing hope, Vickie didn’t hesitate. “Keep trying. At first, I didn’t know if it would work either. But it does. And once I quit reaching for them, I didn’t even think about them anymore. Nobody smokes around me now—not even in my new car.”
For Vickie, quitting wasn’t easy—but it was worth it. And with the right support behind her, she’s proud to say: she’s done.