Objective: To investigate the current status of smoking cessation outpatient clinics and types of smoking cessation aids in Yamagata Prefecture.
Methods: A self-administered questionnaire survey was sent to 194 medical institutions in Yamagata Prefecture, which are covered by health insurance and levy a nicotine dependence management fee.
Results: Of the 194 institutions, 91 responded (response rate 46.9%). Of these, 42 were currently offering smoking cessation services, and clinics at the other 49 were in suspension. Of the latter, 29 had plans to resume their clinics and 20 had no such plans. Clinics currently offering services most commonly used a combination of oral medications and nicotine products, while clinics currently in suspension used only oral medications. Many clinics responded to the cessation of shipments of oral medications by suspending services.
Discussion: The suspension of shipments of oral medications had a significant effect on the suspension of outpatient smoking cessation services.
Conclusion: Those who wish to quit smoking must be guaranteed the opportunity to receive smoking cessation treatment. Our findings suggests that there is a need for collaboration in the community to support smoking cessation.

Objective: To assess potential health damage from exposure to active and passive waterpipe smoking.
Methods: Two participants smoked waterpipe cigarettes for 30 minutes, and the exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations of the participants, as well as those of two non-smokers in the room, were measured before and after exposure to waterpipe smoking. Furthermore, the concentration of particles (PM_2.5) and gas components in the air were measured.
Results: After active smoking, exhaled CO concentrations of the two participants increased from 2 ppm to 7 ppm and from 9 ppm to 21 ppm, respectively. After passive smoking, the exhaled CO concentrations of nonsmokers increased from 1 ppm to 6 ppm and 1 ppm to 8 ppm, respectively. The PM_2.5 concentration in the room was 14.7 ± 7.5 μg/m³ before smoking and gradually increased over time. Moreover, the concentration during smoking reached 323.2 ± 190.4 μg/m³, exceeding the standard value set by the Ministry of Environment. Both particle and gas components showed significant elevation compared to control values (p<0.001, p<0.001).
Conclusion: Exposure to active and passive waterpipe smoking may be harmful to the body.