The Federal USF AHEC Program connects students to careers, professionals to communities and communities to better health. We inspire, train, recruit and retain a diverse and broad range of health professionals to practice in communities where the need is greatest.

The Area Health Education Center (AHEC) provides free tobacco cessation services in your area. The overall goal of the AHEC Tobacco Training & Cessation Program, is to strengthen the capacity of Florida’s healthcare system to deliver effective evidence-based tobacco use treatment, and prevention services throughout the state. The Program is founded upon the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs in the following areas:

1. Educating and Training Health Professions Students
2. Offering Continuing Education to Practicing Health Professionals
3. Providing Cessation Services for Tobacco Users
4. Putting the Clinical Practice Guidelines for Treating Tobacco

Program Options

TFF AHEC Cessation Program offers two options for the free in-person group cessation classes. A one-time two-hour Tools to Quit class and a one-hour Quit Smoking Now group.

Both programs offer education on the health effects related to tobacco use, but more importantly, they teach the benefits of quitting and what to expect when quitting. A Tobacco Cessation Specialist or trained facilitator guides participants as they identify triggers and withdrawal symptoms, and brainstorm ways to cope with them.

Topics include:

1. Addiction, withdrawal and medications that help
2. Planning for the quit date
3. Dealing with triggers
4. Overcoming cravings
5. Relapse prevention

Both programs offer up to 4-weeks of FREE nicotine replacement therapy (while supplies last), educational materials, quit day aids, and follow-up support. We work with all tobacco users. If you’re ready to quit within the next 30 days, we can help you!