A 2ND CHANCE FOR QUITTING
In preparation of the Great American Smokeout November 17th, the Department of Health announced that South Dakota tobacco users who have tried the state's QuitLine and relapsed have a second chance to use the service.
"Most people know how deadly tobacco use can be. Many smokers want to quit, but nicotine is very addictive", Colleen Winter, administrator of Health Promotion for the department, said. "Often it takes several tries before a person can quit for good, so we're giving people a second chance to use the QuitLine to increase their chances of success."
Tobacco users who call the toll-free QuitLine can receive free over-the-phone counseling from trained professionals as well as discounted cessation products. Telephone coaching sessions have been shown to be the most effective way for people to quit long term. Participants in the QuitLine's third year of operation were called back to assess quit status, 27% of respondents were still quit 12 months after getting help through the line.
For a limited time tobacco users who had previously received at least one counseling session from the line will be eligible for services again. Individuals who are interested in the second chance option can call the QuitLine at 1-866-SD-QUITS (1-866-737-8487).
More people quit smoking on the Great American Smokeout than any other day of the year. A quit attempt is considered successful once 12 months have passed without tobacco use. More than 23,000 South Dakotans have called the line since its launch in January 2002. For more information about the QuitLine, call the Department of Health's Tobacco Control Program at 1-800-738-2301 or go to www.HealthySD.gov. For more information about the Great American Smokeout, visit www.cancer.org.
In preparation of the Great American Smokeout November 17th, the Department of Health announced that South Dakota tobacco users who have tried the state's QuitLine and relapsed have a second chance to use the service.
"Most people know how deadly tobacco use can be. Many smokers want to quit, but nicotine is very addictive", Colleen Winter, administrator of Health Promotion for the department, said. "Often it takes several tries before a person can quit for good, so we're giving people a second chance to use the QuitLine to increase their chances of success."
Tobacco users who call the toll-free QuitLine can receive free over-the-phone counseling from trained professionals as well as discounted cessation products. Telephone coaching sessions have been shown to be the most effective way for people to quit long term. Participants in the QuitLine's third year of operation were called back to assess quit status, 27% of respondents were still quit 12 months after getting help through the line.
For a limited time tobacco users who had previously received at least one counseling session from the line will be eligible for services again. Individuals who are interested in the second chance option can call the QuitLine at 1-866-SD-QUITS (1-866-737-8487).
More people quit smoking on the Great American Smokeout than any other day of the year. A quit attempt is considered successful once 12 months have passed without tobacco use. More than 23,000 South Dakotans have called the line since its launch in January 2002. For more information about the QuitLine, call the Department of Health's Tobacco Control Program at 1-800-738-2301 or go to www.HealthySD.gov. For more information about the Great American Smokeout, visit www.cancer.org.
