State Quitline Helps Callers Quit Tobacco - October 1st, 2009
On October 1, the Arkansas Tobacco Quitline will celebrate its one year anniversary of helping callers quit tobacco under operation by a new vendor, Free & Clear, Inc. In only one year, more than 26,000 tobacco users have called to receive the Quitline’s free motivational counseling and medications such as patches and lozenges. Thirty percent of callers remain successfully quit when measured after seven months.
“We have made great strides in Arkansas tobacco control this year,” said Dr. Paul Halverson, director and state officer of the Arkansas Department of Health. “From the passage of the state and federal tobacco tax increase to the expanded quitting services offered by a new Quitline vendor, we are glad to see Arkansans taking advantage of the reasons and resources to help them quit tobacco.”
The Arkansas Tobacco Quitline, which can be reached by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW, began operation under Free & Clear, Inc. in October 2008. The Quitline offers one-on-one counseling with a Quit Coach® by phone or online to help participants take responsibility for and overcome their addiction to tobacco use. A Quit Coach is professionally trained to help tobacco users prepare to quit, choose a quit day, change their routines, cope with withdrawl, and fight slips and relapses.
The Quitline also provides free nicotine-replacement therapy medications such as patches and lozenges (while supplies last). Recently, the Quitline began offering counseling services for 16- and 17-year-old tobacco users. However, tobacco users must be 18 or older to qualify for the free medications. The Quitline offers specialized programs for pregnant women who want to quit, as well as a fax referral program that allows doctors to connect their patients to the Quitline.
ADH’s Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program funds the Arkansas Tobacco Quitline through Tobacco Settlement Proceeds. Services are available seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. in English, Spanish, Marshallese and more than 160 other languages. For more information, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or visit stampoutsmoking.com.
