Philly Offering Free Patches to Help Smokers Quit

The city is renewing its quit-smoking program.

This is only anecdotal, of course, but having returned to Philly a few months ago after living in DC for almost six years, I realized something: We’ve got a lot of smokers here—way more than I ever encountered below the Mason-Dixon. Walking down Market Street, I feel like I’m constantly dodging plumes of secondhand smoke and spotting butt after burned-out butt littering the sidewalk. To be honest, I really hate it.

That’s why I’m begging you, Philly, to make a resolution to finally, once-and-for-all put the cigarettes down. I promise, you’ll feel better for it (and so will I).

Just like last year, the City of Philadelphia is offering to help Philly smokers kick the habit. Health commissioner Donald Schwartz announced Monday that the city will renew its Quit Now program and offer free counseling and free nicotine patches to the first 5,000 locals who call 1-800-QUIT-NOW. Schwartz reports that last year’s program helped 1,700 Philadelphians quit.

So please, for the love of my lungs—just do it already.