State Quitline Offers Free Nicotine-Replacement Therapy to Help Arkansans Keep New Year’s Resolutions - January 6th, 2010
Every year, countless Arkansans make New Year’s resolutions to become tobacco-free. Thanks to the Arkansas Tobacco Quitline, tobacco users throughout the state have access to free medication and cessation counseling to help them keep their 2010 resolutions to quit. Stamp Out Smoking encourages tobacco users to reach the Quitline by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW or 1-800-784-8669 this New Year’s.
Smoking has been shown to cause premature aging and puts users at risk for health problems including cancer, cardiovascular disease and adverse reproductive effects. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), quitting smoking will positively affect a tobacco user’s health for years to come. The risk of coronary heart disease is cut by half only one year after quitting. In as little as five years, the risk of stroke is reduced to that of a person who never smoked, and lung cancer risks drop by up to half after 10 years of being tobacco- free. It is never too late to stop smoking and begin living a healthier life.
The CDC recommends that states provide quitting services to 6 percent of their tobacco users and Arkansas is striving to reach that goal.
“We recognize that quitting tobacco isn’t easy, and that’s why we’re glad we can provide services like the Quitline to help,” said Dr. Carolyn Dresler, Program Director of the Arkansas Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program. “We hope Arkansas tobacco users will take advantage of their New Year’s resolutions to make a fresh start and work toward a tobacco-free life with the support of the Quitline.”
The Quitline, whose services are absolutely free, confidential, and easy to access, offers a combination of motivational counseling with a trained Quit Coach® and free medications while supplies last. Tobacco users receive free customized help to fit their needs, and can select their own quit date. The Arkansas Tobacco Quitline has a 30 percent successful quit rate when measured after seven months.
Stamp Out Smoking is the media and public relations campaign of the Arkansas Department of Health Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program (TPCP). The Arkansas Tobacco Quitline is managed by TPCP and operated by Free & Clear, Inc., a company providing evidence-based tobacco cessation services to more than 25 states in the country. For more information, visit stampoutsmoking.com or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW to quit smoking.
