For anyone who wants to quit smoking today during The Great American Smokeout, Sharon Regional Health System's Lung Center can make quitting easier -- with a little help from tobacco settlement money.

Pennsylvania was one of 46 states that joined a master settlement agreement in 1998 with the tobacco industry. The settlement was to total $206 billion during the first 25 years. Pennsylvania's estimated share is $11 billion between 2000 and 2005, according to information from the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

The Mercer County Tobacco Prevention Coalition, with the Mercer County Behavioral Health Commission as its primary contractor and fiscal agent, received $278,101 this year from the settlement, said Kim Anglin, director of the behavioral health commission. The coalition then distributed the money to providers throughout the county.

Some of that money went to the Lung Center, which paved the way for full-time smoking cessation counseling and tobacco education, said Kim Hunchuk, clinical specialist at the Lung Center. Other providers who benefited from the settlement money include the Mercer County Family Center, the American Lung Association, the American Respiratory Alliance, Penn State Cooperative Extension, UPMC Horizon and Minority Health Advocacy of Sharon Regional.

Previously, the Lung Center was able to offer counseling only a few days a week.

"Because of the money ... it more than quadrupled the hours," Mrs. Hunchuk said. "It's the most rewarding job in the world, getting to do what you're trained to do."

Services at the Lung Center are open to everyone in the community.

"As a tobacco settlement recipient, we have full-time counseling, smoking cessation, asthma education and lung disease rehabilitation," Mrs. Hunchuk said. "The big word that I've got to get out is we're here."

Counseling services are free, and most insurance companies cover the use of smoking cessation products, such as nicotine replacement gum and anti-anxiety medications. Smokers interested in quitting can come in to set up a plan with Mrs. Hunchuk.

"Quit rates are up a bit, about 20 to 40 percent, because of some of the new products and the help people are getting to use them correctly," she said.

Success comes from treating nicotine as an addiction, and treating the anxiety associated with quitting, Mrs. Hunchuk said.

Mrs. Hunchuk helps her clients become comfortable behaving like non-smokers. She also sends them out for acupuncture and hypnosis, and hopes to be able to offer hypnosis on premises by next year.

"We'll use a little bit of everything, whatever works," she said. "We use a lot of relaxation techniques, because it's all a part of it. Helping them stay relaxed works on them quitting."

Encouragement also plays a big role.

"It's not about being smart enough or having enough willpower," Mrs. Hunchuk said. "It's a subtle and nasty addiction. People who have never been addicted have no idea."

At 6:30 tonight, Mrs. Hunchuk will present "How to Get a Smoker to Quit" at the Lung Center, which is located at the rear of the Cancer Care Center on Highland Road in Hermitage. She will discuss how no one can make a smoker quit if the smoker is not interested, and she will talk about new smoking cessation products available and how to use them.

The Lung Center offers counseling from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are accepted. To schedule an appointment, call (724) 983-5920.