Hill Health Center News Release

For immediate release December 12, 2002

Information: Robert Kilpatrick

503-3276 (w)

245-4533 (h)

rkilpatrick@hillhealthcenter.com

Free Counseling to Stop Smoking

Hill Health Center has received a grant from the State Department of Public Health and the Connecticut Tobacco and Health Trust Fund to assist in decreasing the single leading preventable death in the United States - smoking.

The grant will provide free smoking cessation counseling and easy access to aids such as the Patch. Individual counseling will be provided at the Hill Health Center clinics in New Haven (Hill and Dixwell), West Haven Health Center, and Community Health Connection in Ansonia. Access to reduced cost prescription and non-prescription aids are available through the Hill Health Center's newly reopened pharmacy.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved six medications to help quit smoking: Bupropion (Zyban), nicotine gum, nicotine inhaler, nicotine nasal spray, nicotine patch, and nicotine lozenges.

For additional information or to make an appointment, contact Diane Magalhaes or Shenae Draughn at 503-3088 or 503-3585.