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According to most pharmacists, there are not too many free stop-smoking aids available, except through private philanthropist groups or the medical companies themselves. Counselors, private doctors and clinics sometimes give away free samples on a temporary basis to needy clients if they are available at the time, but usually they are not available on a steady enough basis, depending on the drug.
One example is the Pfizer Company who has just released a new drug similar to the stop smoking drug Zyban by Glaxo, called "Chantix", and has donated more medicines to patients than any other pharmaceutical company there was last year. However, all low-income and elderly patients who are under Medicare Part D are unable to get any free medications through any of the drug companies' tax-deductible charities, known as patient-assistance programs.
The three companies who are still giving free medication needy people with no insurance coverage or are not signed up through Medicare Part D are: Pfizer Inc.; Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.; and Merck & Co. Inc. The Bristol-Myers Squibb donated over $500 million worth of drugs to 1 million people in 2005.
A private company organized and ran by volunteers, called the Medical Discounts International (MDI), has a list of basic requirements that are needed for medical assistance. Last year alone they helped more than 7.6 million patients fill more than 11 million prescriptions, costing approximately $2.3 billion dollars. The basic requirements are:
* The applicant is required to be a US citizen
* There are no insurance coverage for outpatient prescription drugs
* There needs to be a physician to sign a form or call the drug company on behalf of the applicant
* The applicant does not qualify for a government or third party program which provides for prescription drugs
* The income level is considered a hardship level, requiring the applicant to purchase the drugs at a retail rate
* Income requirements:
Less than $1,500 per month per individual, or $2,000 per month per family
Each medication requires an income criteria that varies from below poverty to $60,000 (the higher income levels are MS, AIDS, transplant or cancer patients) who require very expensive drugs and medical maintenance
Other methods than can be utilized for the smokers to help with withdrawal is to learn how to cope with no medical help. The smokers can use other help area to learn the different ways available to stop smoking. One of the alternative methods is to join Smokers Anonymous. This is a self-help groups where smokers, who have given up smoking, advise and support those who want to give up smoking. These groups hold regular sessions, which can be very useful for a smoker who is facing withdrawal symptoms and finds other avenues blocked. The smoker can also turn to a family member or a friend, and ask for emotional or physical support. No monetary value can be attached to such support because it is genuine. The family member wants to help the smoker give up smoking, and is willing to spend hours with the smoker, or financially assist them in purchasing patches, gum, or other smoking aids.
The smoker can also pick up a simple hobby like gardening or building scrapbooks from newspapers clippings. These will keep him occupied and reduce the urge to smoke. The smoker must learn to fill up hours with meaningful and engrossing activity. This can only happen if the smoker picks up an activity in which he is genuinely interested. Another option is to bring discipline to his life, by drinking a glass of water or fruit juice whenever there is an urge to smoke. Another natural way to fight the urge to smoke is to learn the depp breathing techniques, learning to relax by taking a few deep breaths. Regular exercises also help. Ultimately, a healthy body leads to a healthy mind, and gives the smoker the strength to give up smoking.
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