Calls to Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line Breaks all Records

Source from:  dunnconnect.com Wednesday, March 12, 2008 03/13/2008

In the first two months of 2008, Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line fielded a record-breaking 20,000 calls from Wisconsinites looking for help to quit. To put this in context, during a typical year, the quit line provides services to about 9,000 state residents. "This unprecedented success in assisting Wisconsin smokers through 1-800-QUIT-NOW breaks all previous state records," said Dr. Michael Fiore, director of the University of Wisconsin Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention, which manages the quit line. "National peers who provide quit services in other states report they have never before seen such a successful state effort to help smokers quit." Three factors led to this increase in quit attempts by Wisconsin smokers: • A $1 increase in the state's tobacco excise tax • New Year's resolutions • Free coaching and medication provided through the Wisconsin Tobacco Quit line Here is a breakdown on who called the quit line and what kind of services they received: • 90 percent were tobacco users. The remaining 10 percent were health-care providers, and friends and family members who wanted to help those considering quit attempts. • 96 percent requested further assistance from the quit line, including science-based coaching to help them quit. • Among those who requested a two-week starter kit of nicotine medicines, 65 percent chose to receive stop-smoking patches. The remaining 35 percent chose either nicotine gum or lozenges. • 35 percent identified themselves as Medicaid enrollees or as uninsured. Annual state smoking-related costs are $2.2 billion, with $480 million borne by Wisconsin Medicaid alone. A lower smoking rate also reduces the suffering of families affected by smoking-related disease and death. Currently, 8,000 families suffer a smoking-related death each year in Wisconsin. The plans include tips on how to live smoke free as well as provide contact information for local quit-tobacco programs throughout the state. Anyone can access this same list of local programs - sorted by county - by visiting WiQuitLine.org. All Quit Line users receive free information in the mail after contacting the quit line either through the Web or by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW. At the caller's request, quit coaches will call back up to four times to offer more free assistance. Beginning on Jan. 1, the quit line started providing a two-week starter kit of FDA-approved nicotine medication (patch, gum or lozenges) for callers who agree to receive the science-based quit line coaching. The quit line is available from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week. At other times, callers can leave a message for a return call. Coaches fluent in many languages are available to callers. Enditem