UW-Madison granted $7M to help people quit smoking

MADISON, Wis. (WISC) -- If one of your New Year's resolutions is to quit smoking, you can do it for free thanks to a major grant given to the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention received a $7 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to fund the study. All participants get three months of Chantix pills and coaching, and some will also receive nicotine patches.

While many people think the damage from smoking is already done, the researchers say it's amazing how quickly the body can heal itself.

"Risk of heart disease, heart attack or stroke goes down after six to 12 months after quitting smoking, we see the blood vessels relax as quickly as two weeks after quitting smoking, risk of lung disease, which there's a whole range of lung disease that smoking effects improves within two to four weeks as well," UW cardiologist Dr. James Stein said.

Participants will also receive up to $260 for completing the study. To volunteer visit endcigs.com or call 877-END-CIGS.

Share this article: