LEWISTON – Central Maine Medical Center will offer Quit for Life, a five-session workshop designed to teach smokers become tobacco-free, starting April 28. The class will include instruction on preparing to quit, getting through the first few days, avoiding triggers to start smoking again and staying tobacco-free forever.

Participants will receive coping strategies, information on overcoming addiction, preventing relapse, managing stress, exercise and nutrition.

To address the addictive nature of nicotine, the program will include an explanation on the benefits of nicotine replacement (patch, gum, nasal spray, inhaler) and Zyban, how they are used and what the side effects might be. The group setting will provides support, sharing ideas about what works and the assurance that participants are not going through it alone.

Wendy Tardif, a CMMC community educator, will be the facilitator. Tardif has more than 15 years of experience helping individuals become tobacco-free. She was recently certified as a tobacco treatment specialist and is part of a statewide training team for the certification of tobacco specialists.

Program participants will have a direct link through her to the medication voucher program at the Maine Tobacco Helpline. The voucher program provides free nicotine replacement for those without insurance coverage.

The classes will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. beginning Wednesday, April 28, in Conference Room 1, 12 High St. Other dates include May 5, 12 (Quit Day), 19 and 26. The cost of the program is $40. CMMC/CMHC employees will be reimbursed program costs if they attend all the classes. No one will be turned away based on the inability to pay.

Class size is limited and pre-registration is required by calling Central Maine Medical Center’s Wellness Center at 795-2473.