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Tobacco Treatment Center

Treatments and Services

The Tobacco Treatment Center offers a range of evidence-based inpatient and outpatient services to help individuals quit smoking or vaping through education, counseling, and medication.

BMC’s multidisciplinary team of trained tobacco cessation specialists, pulmonologists, nurse practitioners, respiratory therapists, and behavioral health specialists help smokers understand the physical and psychological aspects of quitting tobacco and develop individualized, sustainable quit plans.

Inpatient Services

During a hospital stay, patients can receive bedside education and nicotine replacement therapy and/or medications to support quitting. These therapies can also be continued after discharge.

Outpatient Services

Typically, individuals in our Smoking Cessation Program attend one initial 90-minute group session. Follow-up sessions are scheduled according to patient preferences, and could include:

  • Group Visits. Patients meet in a group setting to discuss how tobacco use impacts health and explore strategies to cut back and quit, with support from nicotine replacement therapies.
  • Telehealth Visits. Patients meet with a specialist via video or phone to review their tobacco use history and collaboratively develop a personalized quit plan with counseling.
  • In-Person Clinic Visits. Patients meet one-on-one with a trained Tobacco Treatment Specialist to review their history and create a tailored quit plan using nicotine replacement therapies or other medications.

Medications

Patients may be prescribed FDA-approved medications, including nicotine replacement therapies—such as lozenges, patches, and gum—as well as bupropion (Zyban/Wellbutrin), varenicline (Chantix), or a combination of these treatments.

Longer-Term Support

We recommend “quitlines,” or telephone/online counseling programs, for patients who might benefit from more intensive, ongoing support.

Patient Testimonials

“The program has been very successful for me. It has been two years since I smoked my last cigarette.”
—Lenora M.

“This program changed my life. Chantix really works! Shout-out to BMC Tobacco Treatment Team.”
—Sandra D.

Vaping and Electronic Cigarettes

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) work by heating a liquid to produce an aerosol that users inhale into their lungs. The liquid can contain nicotine, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabinoid (CBD) oils, and other substances and additives.

The United States Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), state and local health departments, and other public health partners have investigated multistate outbreaks of lung injury associated with the use of e-cigarette products (devices, liquids, refill pods, and/or cartridges).

E-cigarettes may also be called vapes, e-hookahs, vape pens, and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). Using an e-cigarette product is commonly called vaping.

The Vaping-Associated Pulmonary Illness (VAPI) Clinic at BMC

About the VAPI Clinic

The Vaping-Associated Pulmonary Illness (VAPI) Clinic is a program within the department of pulmonary medicine for patients with vaping-associated illnesses. The mission of the clinic is to increase awareness around the impact of vaping and improve the lives of those affected by electronic cigarettes or vaping-related products.

The VAPI Clinic team includes pulmonologists, nurse practitioners, respiratory therapists, and behavioral health specialists. Providers collaborate with the Tobacco Treatment Center and the Lung Disease Clinic and have the expertise to diagnose and treat vaping-associated disorders while providing resources to help patients quit vaping.

If you are currently using or have previously used vaping-related products and you are concerned about the development of respiratory symptoms, we encourage you to make an appointment with the VAPI Clinic.

Call 617.638.7480 to schedule an appointment, refer a patient, or find out more information.

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