The Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS) estimates that some 900 people are waging their war to extinguish cigarettes forever, given the number of people who visit the smoking cessation clinics.
The clinics were expanded and now they are in 28 of the 29 hospitals in the country.
The program takes place in 8 sessions.
There is one session per week.
Each session lasts between 3 and 4 hours.
People receive information on the consequences of smoking.
Those who need medication are given the appropriate prescription.
They are offered relaxation and breathing techniques, which are crucial for reducing anxiety caused by abstinence.
Dr. Wing Ching Chan Cheng, coordinator of the CCSS Committee for the Implementation and Strengthening of the Program to Quit Smoking, explained that this model allowed for 93% of people who completed the sessions to quit cigarettes and that 74% of them remained abstinent a year later.
To be part of these groups you must:
-Be insured
-Being over 18 years old.
-Be willing to quit.
-Live near the area of the health facility where you are going to register.
-You should not have problems with alcoholism and other drugs. If so, first focus on quitting those drugs.