While the “Tobacco-free Me (s)” ends, sales of nicotine substitutes are exploding in France. More than 300,000 French people have been buying patches and chewing gums every month since last September in order to quit smoking, according to the revelations of Franceinfo this Thursday, November 29. Since May 2018, the two substitutes have been reimbursed by Social Security. “This care allows all patients access to these substitution treatments, including the most modest. It allows, in fact, to eliminate the advance of systematic costs “, at the time declared the Minister of Health Agnès Buzyn.
Towards the first generation of non-smoking adults
“It’s a record, we had never had such a high number of people benefiting from treatment to aid in stopping”, indicates to Franceinfo Aurélie Lermennier-Jeannet, from the Observatory for Drugs and Drug Addiction. Indeed, since taking charge of nicotine substitutes, the number of prescriptions from doctors has jumped by 66% compared to last year. For the moment, 40% of these alternatives to tobacco on the market are reimbursed. But as of January 1, this should be the case for 100% of patches and chewing gums.
This news supports the end on Saturday of the third edition of the “Tobacco-free Me (s)” operation. This year, more than 214,000 people registered, which is 84,000 more than last year. according to Public Health France. Beyond the substitutes, several tools have been put in place. The health insurance and health agency e-coaching application was downloaded almost 86,000 times. The Tobacco Info Service telephone line was reached by 21,000 people. Not to mention the increase in the price of cigarette packs last August.
With its actions, the French government hopes to reach the first generation of non-smoking adults within 15 years. Remember that it would also take 15 years after stopping smoking to regain normal cardiovascular health.
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