Call us at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) or click here to sign up online.

• The Maine QuitLink helps you understand all parts of nicotine addiction—mental, behavioral, and physical. Your Quit Coach will guide and support you on your journey to becoming tobacco-free.
• We offer free phone coaching, online tools (emails, texts, resources, videos), and free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). You can choose the support that works best for you.
  • Phone coaching: A Quit Coach will support you and help to identify barriers to quitting, overcome urges, and create a quit plan.
  • NRT: We offer up to 12 weeks of nicotine replacement therapy. Choose from patches, gum, and lozenges with our guidance.
  • Online Tools: Access articles, videos, trackers, and supportive emails and texts.

• We support anyone who wants to quit any type of tobacco, including cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, chewing tobacco, vapes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches, and hookah.
• Our services include interpreters for people who don’t speak English as a first language and assist individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
• We provide free, confidential support to everyone, regardless of race, color, national origin, age, disability, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

All our services are completely free. No insurance or copay needed.

• We’ll ask for your name, phone number, some details about your tobacco use, age, and where you live. We may ask if you have health insurance, but insurance is not required for our free services.
• All information you share is private and kept confidential as Personal Health Information. This helps us improve Maine QuitLink services across the state.
• We will never ask for proof of citizenship or your Social Security Number.

Yes! Most vapes contain nicotine, the same addictive chemical found in cigarettes. If you vape, our Quit Coaches are ready to help. People who vape receive the same program benefits as all participants.

• Everyone’s journey to quit is unique. We’ve helped people from all backgrounds with different challenges.
• We support pregnant people, those with mental health concerns, non-English speakers, veterans, teens, and people from diverse communities, including LGBTQ+, Black, Indigenous, Asian American, and Hispanic/Latino communities.
• If you have limited phone minutes, we can provide digital support.
• Our goal is to remove barriers to quitting and help you succeed in becoming tobacco-free.

• Yes! The Maine QuitLink offers My Life, My Quit—a program just for teens ages 13 to 17 who want to quit vaping, smoking, or nicotine pouches.
• Teens can get free help through text, web chat, or phone support.

• Our Maine QuitLink coaches are available Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) or send us a message online and receive a call back.
• If it’s outside business hours, send us an online message, and a team member will get back to you within one business day.

• Besides working with your Maine QuitLink Coach, you can use text message programs or quit apps for support during your quit journey.
• SmokeFree.gov has free resources, including daily text message support and quit apps.

• Don’t worry! A slip, whether it’s a puff or a couple of cigarettes, is common when trying to quit. Think of it as a temporary setback and a chance to learn. We’ll help you get back on track and manage future triggers and cravings. 

• Yes, cravings and withdrawal symptoms are normal if you’ve been a regular tobacco user. This happens because your body is adjusting to less nicotine. Everyone experiences withdrawal differently, but it’s a normal part of quitting. Learn more.
• When you have a craving, try to distract yourself. Slowly drink a glass of water, practice deep breathing, call a friend, or go for a walk. Knowing your personal triggers can also help.

• Congratulations! That’s a big accomplishment, and we’re so proud of you. Please consider sharing your story with others.

• Yes! Quitting can take practice and many attempts. You can enroll again for phone coaching and medication support. Just wait 6 months from your last registration. We’ll use your past experience to help you build a stronger plan this time.

• NRT stands for nicotine replacement therapy. There are 5 FDA-approved types: nicotine patch, gum, lozenge, inhaler, and nasal spray.
• NRT helps manage withdrawal symptoms by giving a small, controlled dose of nicotine, without the harmful chemicals in tobacco.
• NRT is safe and effective, doubling your chances of quitting, especially when combined with coaching.

• Some people think using NRT is “cheating” because it contains nicotine. While the goal is to quit nicotine entirely, it doesn’t have to happen all at once.
• NRT helps your body adjust to less nicotine gradually and eases withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, irritability, and insomnia. Think of NRT as a useful tool to support your quit journey.

• We offer free over-the-counter NRT and can help you choose between the patch, gum, or lozenge. Some people may benefit from using a combination, like patch+gum or patch+lozenge.

• Phone coaching participants can receive up to 12 weeks of free NRT.
• Digital program participants can get a free 4-week NRT starter kit.
• If you’ve used Maine QuitLink before, you can re-enroll for phone coaching after 6 months and receive free NRT benefits again.

• Your Maine QuitLink Coach will tell you how to use the NRT in the right way to get the most benefit from it.
• View our  medications page  for more resources, including links to videos and informational cards.

• Cigarettes contain toxic ingredients like ammonia, arsenic, tar, and lead, with nearly 70 known cancer-causing chemicals.
• Nicotine is found in cigarettes, vapes, and other tobacco products, but on its own, it does not cause cancer.

• NRT is FDA-approved and considered safe and effective.
• The Maine QuitLink takes safety seriously and will ask a few questions to make sure NRT is a safe choice for you.
  • Some people may have a skin reaction to the patch or an upset stomach from the gum or lozenge.
  • If this happens, seek medical help right away. Then call us to discuss switching to a different type or dose of NRT. We may ask for your provider’s permission to continue use.

• We can help! Occasionally an NRT order may need to be resubmitted to your pharmacy or an alternate pharmacy. Please call us at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) or send us a message to let us know there is an issue. We are generally able to resolve these issues quickly on the same or next business day.

• Some pharmacies only give out smaller amounts of NRT at a time. For example, if we order 4 weeks of patches, the pharmacy might only prepare a 2-week supply for pick-up. You’ll need to return when you run low.
• If this is an issue for you, please call us at  1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) or  send us a message so we can help you troubleshoot.

• Yes. NRT is free (up to 12 weeks), no matter your insurance status.

• Yes, NRT is free (up to 12 weeks), no matter your insurance status. MaineCare also covers most NRT types with a prescription. Visit our MaineCare Benefits page or ask your provider for more information.

• NRT is usually available 3 business days after your call with a coach, sometimes even the same day. If you plan to pick it up sooner, call the pharmacy first to check if it’s ready.

• Your NRT starter kit is usually shipped a few days after ordering and may take 4 to 14 days to arrive.
• If you haven’t received it within 21 days, please  send us a message.

• The MaineHealth Center for Tobacco Independence manages the Maine QuitLink for the Maine CDC, part of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. Learn more.