An Anti-Vaping Arsenal
EX Program
APRIL 19, 2024
Employers face a significant challenge in supporting employees who vape. The EX Program's Dr. Amanda Graham shares insights into vaping, tobacco surcharges, and reasonable alternatives.
This site uses cookies to improve your experience. By viewing our content, you are accepting the use of cookies. To help us insure we adhere to various privacy regulations, please select your country/region of residence. If you do not select a country we will assume you are from the United States. View our privacy policy and terms of use.
EX Program
APRIL 19, 2024
Employers face a significant challenge in supporting employees who vape. The EX Program's Dr. Amanda Graham shares insights into vaping, tobacco surcharges, and reasonable alternatives.
EX Program
APRIL 10, 2024
E-cigarette use can negatively affect indoor air quality and put others at risk for secondhand exposure in workplaces. And more of your employees may be using e-cigarettes in the workplace than you realize. A Truth Initiative survey found 76% of the surveyed e-cigarette users reported having vaped at work. But is it legal to vape at work? [.] Read More. from Can You Get Fired for Vaping at Work?
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
From Awareness to Action: An HR Guide to Making Accessibility Accessible
Unlocking Employee Potential with the Power of Continuous Feedback
EX Program
MARCH 13, 2024
Those working in white-collar professional services typically have lower rates of smoking and vaping than other industries. But a creeping trend of nicotine pouch use among workers in demanding industries, such as finance and technology, could be changing things. Nicotine pouches are tiny bags of nicotine that fit under the lip. Zyn nicotine pouches are [.
EX Program
MARCH 6, 2024
On college campuses, the sights are often predictable: school colors, packed libraries before finals, and now, an increasing number of vape/smoke-free campus signs. As of 2023, over 2,600 campuses in the U.S. have implemented tobacco-free policies, up from 1,816 in 2017, with many more following suit thanks to Truth Initiative’s tobacco/vape-free college program.
EX Program
FEBRUARY 21, 2024
So, your company is ready to implement an incentive or a tobacco surcharge on insurance for employees who use tobacco products. The next task at hand is identifying individuals eligible for the incentive or premium discount. To achieve this, many organizations rely on self-reported data through a tobacco attestation form. But how do you ensure [.] Read More. from How to Ensure Honesty on a Tobacco Attestation Form The post How to Ensure Honesty on a Tobacco Attestation Form appeared first on EX
EX Program
FEBRUARY 2, 2024
Helping members quit tobacco offers many advantages to your health plan, including improved health outcomes, lower costs of care, and healthier families. While the benefits of quitting tobacco are widely known, you may still see low engagement in the tobacco cessation program you offer. You are not alone. See impactful and proven initiatives that change [.
EX Program
JANUARY 25, 2024
Doctors and nurses who smoke can affect more than your organization’s healthcare costs; they can influence the quality of care for patients, too. Healthcare professionals are some of the most influential employees for a clinic, hospital, or health care system. They impact everything from the work environment to patient satisfaction and behavior. Having healthcare professionals [.
EX Program
JANUARY 17, 2024
Everyone knows the risks of smoking while pregnant, but what about the risks of vaping while pregnant? As the prevalence of e-cigarette use among young adults increases, the likelihood of vaping among women of reproductive age also increases. Studies show up to 7% of pregnant women use e-cigarettes. However, this percentage is likely an underestimate [.
EX Program
JANUARY 3, 2024
About 70% of EX Program employer clients use some form of quit tobacco-incentive or surcharge. Here’s why: When implemented successfully, a surcharge can motivate people to act who might not feel confident about quitting or might not be interested in quitting right now. An incentive can also guide tobacco users to resources that effectively boost [.
EX Program
JANUARY 3, 2024
Every day, millions of U.S. adults struggle with tobacco addiction. At Truth Initiative, we’re on a mission to change this. Our vision is to create a world where young people reject tobacco and anyone can quit. Inspired by Mayo Clinic’s effective on-site treatment model for tobacco addiction, we partnered with Mayo Clinic to create EX [.] Read More. from Empowering Quitters: A Year in Review of EX Program’s Impact on Tobacco Addiction The post Empowering Quitters: A Year in Review of EX Program’
EX Program
JANUARY 3, 2024
Motivating tobacco users to quit or attempt to quit is a priority for over 50% of employers, often achieved through various incentives, including tobacco surcharges. Optimizing the premium differential, along with effective communication on how to eliminate it, can significantly boost the number of individuals attempting to quit. As you assess your benefits to enhance [.
EX Program
DECEMBER 4, 2023
[.] Read More. from Former Smoker Shares How She Quit Menthol Cigarettes The post Former Smoker Shares How She Quit Menthol Cigarettes appeared first on EX Program.
EX Program
DECEMBER 5, 2023
Everyone knows smoking causes lung cancer. But what about smoking and breast cancer? Or smoking and bladder cancer? Many employers may not be aware of how many cancers are linked to tobacco use—and how much that may be costing. Cancer costs today are increasingly top of mind for employers as they look to contain healthcare [.] Read More. from Smoking and Cancer: More Than Just Lung Cancer The post Smoking and Cancer: More Than Just Lung Cancer appeared first on EX Program.
EX Program
DECEMBER 4, 2023
As part of its commitment to trailblaze addiction treatment, the EX Program introduced a powerful new feature in its EX Community: Live Events. Embarking on the journey to quit tobacco is no easy feat, and the EX Community has been a steadfast companion for individuals navigating the challenges of addiction for over a decade. Now, [.] Read More. from EX Community’s New Live Events Expand Support in Quit Smoking Support Groups The post EX Community’s New Live Events Expand Support in Quit Smoking
EX Program
DECEMBER 4, 2023
Need ideas on how to inspire more individuals to stop smoking, vaping, and nicotine use? Our quit-smoking calendar can help. Smart employers and health plans know that offering the right nicotine addiction program is just the start. The magic happens in the way you ensure tobacco users know effective help is easily accessible. Get tips [.] Read More. from Tip Sheet: Inspire More to Quit with 2024 Quit-smoking Calendar The post Tip Sheet: Inspire More to Quit with 2024 Quit-smoking Calendar appea
EX Program
NOVEMBER 29, 2023
When you explore interventions to quit smoking, you might see programs that claim to be “tailored” or specially designed for certain groups or populations. But are these programs more effective in enrolling and engaging individuals? As a councilmember of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco’s Health Equity Network, I am deeply committed to [.
EX Program
NOVEMBER 28, 2023
[.] Read More. from More addictive and harder to quit: Health groups want Black menthol smokers to know support groups can help The post More addictive and harder to quit: Health groups want Black menthol smokers to know support groups can help appeared first on EX Program.
EX Program
NOVEMBER 6, 2023
Smoking and obesity together are double trouble for employee health. Each can increase healthcare costs. Together, health risks—and expenses—can be compounded. With more than 40% of U.S. adults meeting criteria for obesity, this health risk is likely already on your radar to address with employees. Strokes, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease are just a [.
EX Program
OCTOBER 19, 2023
Persons with serious mental illness (i.e., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or recurrent major depression) are three times more likely to smoke tobacco than are persons in the general U.S. population. Smoking is the strongest preventable risk factor for the 10- to 15-year shortened life span of persons with serious mental illness. Helping these smokers quit is [.
EX Program
OCTOBER 18, 2023
Quitting menthol cigarettes after 40 years of smoking is a huge achievement, on par with buying a first home or getting married. It’s absolutely life changing. Just ask Millie of the Bronx, New York. She started smoking menthol cigarettes when she was 15 years old because it was the ‘cool thing’ to do. She’s been [.] Read More. from Get Inspired: Millie’s Journey to Quitting Menthol Cigarettes The post Get Inspired: Millie’s Journey to Quitting Menthol Cigarettes appeared first on EX Program.
EX Program
OCTOBER 11, 2023
Do high employee healthcare costs haunt you? The effects of employee vaping and smoking might have a bigger impact than you think. Everyone knows the typical health complications of tobacco use. But there are surprising—and lesser known—impacts of vaping and smoking likely lurking in your healthcare claims. Join us for a short 30-minute webinar on [.
EX Program
SEPTEMBER 26, 2023
You may have seen news about low nicotine cigarettes. That’s because the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) already authorized one brand of low nicotine cigarettes. The FDA has also indicated that it plans to create a rule that would require ALL cigarettes to have non-addictive levels of nicotine. Requiring all cigarettes to have non-addictive levels [.
EX Program
SEPTEMBER 5, 2023
Many of us are used to seeing smoking and alcohol literally go hand-in-hand. On the patios at bars, at music festivals, and in movies when someone is feeling stressed or down. But smoking and alcohol are a dangerous combination, and not just because of the increased health risks. Called “poly-use,” the interplay between nicotine and [.] Read More. from 4 Key Facts about Smoking and Alcohol The post 4 Key Facts about Smoking and Alcohol appeared first on EX Program.
EX Program
SEPTEMBER 5, 2023
WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 5, 2023) – For the first time, an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven program is being deployed to help adults nationwide quit smoking, vaping, and using nicotine. The EX® Program from Truth Initiative, the leading digital health program for tobacco addiction for employers and health plans, announced this week the launch of Scout, the [.
EX Program
AUGUST 15, 2023
Connect with us at HLTH 2023, which brings together healthcare leaders to accelerate innovation in the industry.
EX Program
AUGUST 15, 2023
What does it mean to be trauma informed and why is this important for people who coach tobacco users? Let me explain. You’ve likely heard the term social determinants of health (SDOH). SDOH are the non-medical factors that affect people’s health and quality of life. They can include education, healthcare, neighborhood/built environment, economic stability, and [.
EX Program
AUGUST 3, 2023
You’ve likely seen reports that the overall U.S. smoking rate has significantly declined in the past 2 decades. But that statement alone doesn’t tell the whole story. In many communities—where employees live and work—tobacco use remains high. In fact, smoking prevalence is nearly 50% higher in a group of Midwestern and Southern states compared to [.
EX Program
JULY 18, 2023
HIV and smoking are a costly and deadly combination that absorbs significant Medicaid dollars. In 2022, the federal government spent an estimated $13 billion on Medicaid services for people with HIV. Additionally, state Medicaid spending totaled an estimated $5.4 billion in the same year. Antiretroviral therapies have provided the ability to live longer for those [.
EX Program
JULY 11, 2023
Loneliness is known to affect many aspects of employee health…but is it as deadly as smoking? Loneliness is described as a state of mind linked to wanting human contact but feeling alone. It is associated with serious medical conditions as well as higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide. In America, loneliness is making headlines [.] Read More. from Is Loneliness as Harmful as Smoking?
EX Program
JULY 6, 2023
You just invested in a new tobacco cessation program. Your next challenge is to get the word out to the people that need it. Which tactics will you use…a quit smoking poster, a flyer, or maybe a lunch-and-learn? These strategies all have their role and will reach some of your population, some of the time. [.] Read More. from Exciting New Partnership to Drive Uptake in Digital Health Using AI The post Exciting New Partnership to Drive Uptake in Digital Health Using AI appeared first on EX Program
EX Program
JUNE 21, 2023
There is a common misconception that smoking helps people deal with stress. But the truth is that smoking doesn’t actually help reduce stress. Most health plans continuously look for new ways to help members live healthier lives. But too often, health plans don’t focus enough on one proven way to help members reduce stress and [.] Read More. from Health Plan Tip Sheet: How to Help Members with “Stress Smoking” The post Health Plan Tip Sheet: How to Help Members with “Stress Smoking”
EX Program
MAY 25, 2023
Introduction We determined whether a tobacco cessation intervention targeting brief perioperative abstinence (“quit for a bit”) increased engagement of surgical patients with treatment compared with an intervention targeting long-term postoperative abstinence (“quit for good”). Aims and Methods Surgical patients who smoke were stratified according to intended duration of postoperative abstinence, and then randomized within strata [.
EX Program
MAY 15, 2023
After the Met Gala on May 1, “Doja Cat vape” started to trend in Google. Here’s a likely reason why. The Met Gala is well known for its over-the-top displays of fashion, and the latest event was no exception. This year, though, rapper Doja Cat drew attention for more than her sleek outfit: She was [.] Read More. from Why the Trending Search Term “Doja Cat Vape” Is a Big Deal The post Why the Trending Search Term “Doja Cat Vape” Is a Big Deal appeared first on EX Program.
EX Program
MAY 11, 2023
Have you ever talked about a group of employees using these phrases: “I think [a group of people] are foolish.” “Some people who [engage in a behavior] may be smart, but most of them aren’t.” “I dislike [a group of people].” Think these phrases are derogatory or judgmental? It might surprise you to learn that [.] Read More. from What is a Social Consequence of Using Tobacco?
EX Program
APRIL 27, 2023
WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 27, 2023) – Two leading organizations in digital health, the EX® Program from Truth Initiative®, the most validated digital health program for tobacco addiction for employers, and Sesh, a leading mental health platform, announced a partnership today to address top drivers of healthcare costs among employers and health plans. “As more people [.
EX Program
APRIL 26, 2023
Empathy can be powerful in any type of setting. Defined as the capacity to understand or feel what another person is experiencing, communicating with empathy can be especially powerful with driving smoking cessation outcomes. Unlike sympathy—which is similar but puts a degree of separation between people— empathy is about fostering connection in a way that’s [.
EX Program
APRIL 13, 2023
What does the environment have to do with the vendors you select for your health and wellness benefits? Plenty. In recent years, more and more companies are pledging to work only with vendors that adhere to social and environmental standards. At Truth Initiative, protecting the environment has long been a priority. We believe that all [.] Read More. from How Truth Initiative Prioritizes Environmental Impact The post How Truth Initiative Prioritizes Environmental Impact appeared first on EX Progr
EX Program
JANUARY 30, 2023
The EX Program partners with numerous Medicaid health plans, including ones in Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia. Since partnering with the EX Program, these Medicaid health plans have increased member engagement in quitting tobacco. For example, with one health plan client, the EX Program drove a 70% increase in 2022 member enrollments over 2021 numbers, [.
EX Program
FEBRUARY 7, 2023
No surprise: the need for employee mental health support remains a top priority for employers in 2023. But not everyone is using healthy means to cope with today’s unrelenting stress. Cigarette sales in the U.S. have been higher than expected after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. During the pandemic, 28% of former smokers [.] Read More. from 4 Myths about Tobacco Use and Employee Mental Health The post 4 Myths about Tobacco Use and Employee Mental Health appeared first on EX Pr
EX Program
FEBRUARY 9, 2023
If your company has a tobacco use surcharge and an employee who smokes moves without your knowledge to a state that prohibits tobacco surcharges, is your company at risk? It’s a good question. In a recent blog post, I addressed how employers with tobacco use policies can—and can’t—handle enforcing those policies when an employee works [.] Read More. from Tobacco Use Surcharge Issues When Remote Employees Secretly Work in Different States The post Tobacco Use Surcharge Issues When Remote Employee
EX Program
FEBRUARY 14, 2023
Wonder how to motivate someone to quit smoking, especially when they’re not ready to quit? The good news is most people who smoke do want to quit. But sometimes what it takes to motivate someone to quit isn’t the same thing that helps someone stay quit. This is why it’s best to offer several elements [.] Read More. from How to Motivate Someone to Quit Smoking—and Stay Quit The post How to Motivate Someone to Quit Smoking—and Stay Quit appeared first on EX Program.
EX Program
MARCH 1, 2023
With nearly 1 in 5 Tennessee residents smoking, city regulations take effect prohibiting indoor smoking and vaping in 21+ establishments. WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 1, 2023) – More than 30 million adults nationwide still smoke, and nearly 70% of smokers want to quit. According to a recent study in JAMA Open Network, quit attempts among adult [.] Read More. from Nashville Bar Owner Shares Journey to Quit Nicotine As Smoke-Free Ordinance Goes into Effect The post Nashville Bar Owner Shares Journey to
EX Program
MARCH 1, 2023
Medical device manufacturer B. Braun launched the EX Program in October 2020. Headquartered in Bethlehem, PA, B. Braun has 6,000 benefits-eligible U.S. employees. In 2022, 90% of employees who attested to tobacco use registered for the EX Program. Among those who enrolled, 95% actively engaged in the program. See 4 factors driving high engagement in [.
EX Program
MARCH 23, 2023
With any digital health program, member engagement makes or breaks the solution. This is also true for our program, which helps people overcome tobacco addiction. As a seasoned marketing professional, I maximize the ROI for clients through strategic campaign development, planning, and execution. And in every place I’ve been, there is one constant that always [.
Expert insights. Personalized for you.
Are you sure you want to cancel your subscriptions?
Let's personalize your content