By Wendy Anders

The Costa Rican public health system offers smoking cessation clinics through 28 of its 29 hospitals, making the program available to much of the country’s population, said the CCSS (Costa Rican Social Security Agency).

The Heredia Hospital was the most recent to offer the interdisciplinary program to aid in quitting smoking. They are offering an evening class schedule to accommodate people’s work schedules, and, as in other hospitals, offer the program to those over 18.

At the conclusion of the program, program data show that 93 percent of those who complete sessions are able to stop smoking, and at a one-year follow up, 74 percent have been able to stay away from smoking, said Wing Ching Chan Cheng, coordinator of the CCSS Smoking Cessation Program, which, she said is a high success rate.

The 8-session program, which was been standardized, is delivered by a team of specialists who go beyond the physical component of the addiction to also address the psychological and social dependence factors that are connected to smoking habits. An estimated 900 smokers currently attend the sessions throughout the country.

The 3-4 hour long classes include information as well as practical steps to quitting such as relaxation and breathing techniques to reduce the anxiety generated by abstinence. Participants who are using medication to aid in quitting smoking are able to have their prescriptions checked, and are also trained on complimentary techniques.

Lifestyle changes including diet, exercise, creating support from family and friends, gradual reductions in smoking, and stress reduction are also topics in the program’s weekly sessions.

Smokers who also have an alcohol or drug addiction must first overcome those addictions before being admitted into the smoking cessation program offered by the CCSS, said the program organizers.

Local health clinics have also joined on to the initiative, thus making strides towards an even more accessible program. The Jiménez Núñez clinic at the Comprehensive Health Care Center (CAIS) in Cañas and the San Rafael health area in Puntarenas, will both start offering the smoking cessation program in the next few days, said Wing Ching Chan Cheng, who added that studies show that seven out of 10 Costa Rican smokers wish to quit and are aware of the health risks of smoking.