POSTED: Wednesday, January 2, 2013 --- 8:45 p.m.
UW is looking for about 800 smokers to receive free drugs and treatment as part of a new study.
The UW Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention announced a new $10 million federal grant to help smokers quit, and study their treatment and its effects. Participants will get counseling, coaching, and one of three medications for free over five years.
"We'll be providing participants with counseling, with state of the art medicine, with a variety of medical tests and see how we can most effectively help them to quit but also assess the changes, the improvements we expect to see over time as a result of quitting," said Dr. Michael Fiore.
Fiore began a similar study in 2005. He says half of smokers die prematurely, on average 15 years sooner than non-smokers. The previous study determined depression after quitting does not last long-term, and that elasticity in blood vessels is restored after quitting, among other findings. This time he hopes to learn more about how blood inflammation may cause heart attacks in smokers and perform new tests on the lungs.
To sign up for the study, visit endcigs.com or call 1-866-END-CIGS.
