As the American Cancer Society encourages smokers to commit to smoke-free lives during today's Great American Smokeout, the City of Beverly Hills is launching a partnership with Cedars-Sinai to provide a free-of-charge smoking cessation program to individuals living or working in Beverly Hills.

Offered through the city's Community Assistance Grant Funding, the program allows a limited number of participants to receive smoking cessation services at no cost through the Cedars-Sinai Medical Network until June 2019.

"The city is thrilled to partner with Cedars-Sinai on this important and lifesaving endeavor," said Beverly Hills Mayor Julian Gold, MD, who also co-chairs Cedars-Sinai's Anesthesiology Department. "This program will provide a personal and tailored approach to smoking cessation that addresses individual patient needs, which we believe will yield greater success."

Participants get one-on-one counseling with a clinical pharmacist, prescriptions for medications or nicotine replacement aids and strategies to help control cravings. Health information about the risks of smoking and the benefits of stopping, behavior modification education and carbon monoxide monitoring are also provided.

"Smoking harms nearly every organ of the body and is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States," said Karine Azizian, PharmD, executive director, Pharmacy and Nutrition Services, Cedars-Sinai Medical Network. "Quitting smoking greatly reduces the risk of disease and early death. Cedars-Sinai is excited to partner with the City of Beverly Hills and help strengthen the health of individuals in our community."

For more information and to schedule an appointment, contact the Cedars-Sinai Medical Network at 310-385-3534, option 3.