Smoking Cessation

Everyone’s journey to quit smoking is different, but you don’t have to do it alone. The University of Chicago Medicine offers Courage to Quit (CTQ), a group-based, comprehensive approach to smoking cessation. We help patients overcome tobacco addiction and quit smoking for good.

Our Evidence-Based Approach to Stop Smoking

Courage to Quit is a stop-smoking program developed by UChicago Medicine’s Andrea King, PhD, in partnership with the Respiratory Health Association (RHA). The program is consistent with proven, evidence-based smoking cessation methods, including behavioral skills, cognitive skills and medication information to help you learn how to quit smoking, reduce tobacco use and lead a healthy lifestyle.

UChicago Medicine’s psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience team works in partnership with pulmonary medicine specialists to coordinate the smoking cessation program.

What to Expect

We offer multiple Courage to Quit groups weekly in a rolling group format which allows you to join the program at any time. Groups typically have between four and 10 members and are separated into Phase 1 (beginner) groups and Phase 2 (advanced) groups for Phase 1 graduates. Our goal is to provide support, information, skills, tools, feedback and education to help you quit smoking. You can come to as many meetings as you would like. If you decide that the program is not a good match for you, you will be provided with other smoking cessation resources.

How to Sign Up

If you are in Chicago and would like to be scheduled for the program, you can call our psychiatry intake office directly at 773-702-3858. Alternatively, if you are a patient at UChicago Medicine, you can ask your health care provider to assist you in enrolling for the program.

Courage to Quit Virtual Rolling Group Program

When:

Groups currently meet via Zoom on:

Mondays: 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Tuesdays: 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Wednesdays: 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Thursdays: 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Fridays: 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Registration is required. Links will be sent once registration is complete.

Who can attend:

Adults 18+ years of age who currently use tobacco (cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, snuff, cigars, e-cigarettes, hookah, etc.) and want to learn more about their smoking and tobacco use and set goals to quit smoking or cut back on their tobacco use.

Contact Us

What happens when you quit smoking — Download a PDF of this graphic

No-Cost, Confidential Assessment and Referrals

In order to quickly respond to your needs, a trained mental health professional is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

You can make an appointment by calling:

Ingalls Memorial at 708-915-8600
UChicago Medicine at 1-888-824-0200

Our assessment and referral staff assess each individual to determine his or her behavioral health needs and makes referrals based on those needs.

Our Smoking Cessation Locations

Request an Appointment

We are currently experiencing a high volume of inquiries, leading to delayed response times. For faster assistance, please call 1-888-824-0200 to schedule your appointment.

If you have symptoms of an urgent nature, please call your doctor or go to the emergency room immediately.

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