News

Contact: Sarah Bello

By Lexie Cerk, Marketing Coordinator II

Quitting smoking can be intimidating, but you don’t have to do it alone. CMH’s Tobacco Cessation Program is here to help achieve your goals. Alissa Dorman (pictured on the right), CMH Tobacco Cessation coordinator, works with both inpatients and outpatients and has dedicated her career to helping individuals with nicotine dependency.

Personalized support

The Tobacco Cessation Program meets patients where they are at, providing support and counseling to help your chances of quitting for good.

“It’s very flexible, certainly not one size fits all. That’s part of the beauty of the individual appointments—not everyone is the same, what works and what doesn’t is going to be different for everybody,” Dorman says. “What motivates me is knowing that hopefully I’m helping out, even though the outcomes might not be immediate. My favorite part is seeing successes like Veronica, of course.”

Success story

Veronica McCormick (pictured on the left), CMH customer care representative, took part in CMH’s Commit to Quit program, which is free for CMH caregivers, their spouses and their eligible family members. On September 1, 2025, she celebrated one year of smoke-free living.

“I knew I needed to do it, but I would never do it for myself,” McCormick says. “I didn’t want to quit at that time, so I did it for my family. It was probably my sixth time trying to quit, and it finally took.”

Support is available every step of the way at CMH, with health care specialists to help individuals stay committed to their tobacco-free journey.

“Definitely having Alissa available to me was the main thing. I knew I could talk to her anytime I needed,” McCormick says. “I had a regular setup appointment with her, including tips and tricks. It’s amazing what can happen when you actually listen to the person who knows what they’re talking about.

“It also helped that I have cheerleaders in my own department. My physical therapist, in particular, is one of my biggest cheerleaders. He’ll still come by my desk and say, ‘How many days has it been?’ As of today, [October 28], it is 423 days.”

Signs to quit

Smoking can damage almost every organ and increase your risk of cancer and other diseases, according to the American Cancer Society.

“There are 7,000 chemicals in each cigarette, and one of the chemicals is nicotine,” Dorman says. “The difficulty [with quitting] comes from the nicotine addiction and the habit that is so immersed.

“Lapses and relapses are often common. Just keep at it, acknowledge that, and move on, avoid getting down on yourself. It’s a huge addiction and a huge habit, so ideally, you treat both of those together for the most successful outcome.”

Quitting smoking at any age can have several health benefits, including:

• Reducing your risk of cancer
• Improving your breathing
• Lowering your heart rate
• Increasing your stamina
• Saving money

“I would have never thought that changing careers altogether would have been such a good health decision for me,” McCormick says. “My lung capacity is getting better, my clothes don’t smell bad, and I just know that I’m going to be around a lot longer for my family, and that’s the most important part.”

McCormick has even inspired others with her tobacco cessation journey.

“I have a friend who has also quit smoking with me,” McCormick says. “She’s three months into not smoking. Every week, I’m like, ‘Where are we at?’ ‘How long has it been without?’ We just try to support each other.”

For those who are interested in quitting but are not sure where to start, Dorman highlights the importance of staying committed throughout the journey.

“I would say just to keep at it. It’s a process, it takes time,” she says. “Every quit attempt gets you to that final quit, and you learn what to do, what not to do, what works, and what doesn’t.”

Vaping, spit tobacco and cigars are all unsafe alternatives to cigarette smoking, Dorman mentions. CMH’s Tobacco Cessation Program offers one-on-one counseling for those habits, as well.

Join the movement

The Great American Smokeout (GASO) is a nationwide event on Thursday, November 20. Each year, GASO encourages individuals to stop smoking for a day.

“The idea is for those that use tobacco to try to quit for at least the day in hopes that turns into two, three, four, and so on,” Dorman says. “It’s a great time for someone to try to work on quitting.”

McCormick encourages people with nicotine dependency to give it a try.

“It’s not easy, I still want a cigarette every day. After 22 years of smoking, it doesn’t go away,” McCormick says. “At least with having the support system and the resources, it is actually possible. You have your relapses, and it’s okay, put your cigarette out and try it again.”

Take the first step today. Call Alissa Dorman at 503.325.4321, ext. 81102, to schedule a Tobacco Cessation appointment.