North Country health organizations are working to address a region-wide shortage in tobacco treatment specialists to help individuals quit smoking.

North Country Nicotine Consultants, or NCNC, a collaborative initiative of The Heart Network and Glens Falls Hospital, provides resources and consultation to health care providers to help increase delivery of comprehensive, evidence-based treatment for nicotine addiction. This year, a major focus for NCNC is increasing the number of certified tobacco treatment specialists, or CTTSs — professionals with a unique skill set tailored for individuals looking to stop using tobacco.

Currently, the CTTS recruitment effort is focused on Essex, Franklin, Clinton and Hamilton counties, where the ratio of smokers to treatment specialists is 2,750 to 1. As of 2020, approximately 33,000 people smoke in these four counties, with only 12 trained specialists serving the population. Of these 12, the majority offer tobacco treatment as just one aspect of their job description, meaning they may be a nurse or counselor who is also working with patients in other areas.

“North Country Nicotine Consultants has worked hard over the last several years to emphasize the importance of smokers talking to their providers — and providers talking to their patients — when they’re ready to quit, as simple counseling with a doctor increases the likelihood of quitting significantly,” said Brielle Carnright, tobacco project coordinator at The Heart Network. “Working with a tobacco treatment specialist increases successful quit rates even more, which is why it’s so important to increase the pool of these professionals in our North Country communities.”

CTTSs understand the science behind tobacco addiction, nicotine withdrawal symptoms and effective treatments for tobacco use. They’re able to provide clear and accurate information about the causes and consequences of tobacco use, and can develop individualized plans that use comprehensive, evidence-based assessments and treatment strategies; such strategies can include information about effective medications and cognitive behavioral methods for quitting. Tobacco treatment specialists don’t just focus on smoking, either: they focus on all forms of tobacco use.

“Despite nationwide strides in lowering the prevalence of smoking, rural communities like those in northern New York still trail urban areas,” said Riley Brennan, program coordinator at Glens Fall Hospital’s Health Promotion Center. “Additionally, we’ve learned that people from rural areas are more likely to start at a younger age than their urban counterparts. It’s due to these disparities that we’re dedicated to enhancing the services available to people looking to quit, especially given the lack of resources currently available.”

North Country Nicotine Consultants is working to increase the number of CTTSs by engaging with health systems to recruit individuals who want to become trained, certified specialists. NCNC can help connect people with programs offered by institutions such as Rutgers and Rosewell to participate in training courses, and help fund the training with mini grants that cover the costs of travel and other expenses.

Those who work in healthcare and are interested in learning more about becoming a CTTS can get in touch with Brielle Carnright or Riley Brennan at bcarnright@heartnetwork.org or rbrennan@glensfallshosp.org.

Smokers looking to quit can also use the New York State Smokers’ Quitline, a service of the New York state Department of Health based at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo. It is one of the first and busiest state quitlines in the nation and has responded to nearly three million calls since it began operating in 2000. The quitline encourages those who use commercial tobacco and vape products to talk with their healthcare professionals and access available Medicaid or health insurance benefits for medication support. All New York state residents can call 1-866-NY-QUITS (1-866-697-8487) or text QUITNOW to 333888 for coaching and resources, free of charge, seven days a week beginning at 9 a.m. Visit www.nysmokefree.com for more information.

To learn more about North Country Nicotine Consultants, visit heartnetwork.org/ncnc.