Choose success in '15; Call the Montana Tobacco Quit Line!

Every New Year’s Eve, thousands of people across Montana resolve to improve their lives, vowing to give up their bad habits in exchange for healthy lifestyles. The Montana Tobacco Quit Line wants to assist people who attempt to quit tobacco and has a free program designed for all Montanans. The Quit Line celebrated a 10-year anniversary this past year; over 80,000 people have called since it was launched, and many achieved the success they were striving for. The Quit Line also expanded access by way of a new enrollment website, http://www.QuitNowMontana.com, with over 15,000 people visiting the website in 2014.

For 2015, the Quit Line aims to help those with New Year’s resolutions to quit using tobacco products or e-cigarettes by offering free support and proven cessation medications. Callers who enroll receive guidance from specialists who help each person set a quit date, develop a personalized quit plan and participate in five proactive calls with a quit coach who will guide the individual through the quitting process. The quit coach can discuss the cessation medication benefits available and help the caller select which medication will give them the greatest chance of success.

The Quit Line will offer up-to 8 weeks of free nicotine replacement therapy (gum, lozenges or the patch) to enrolled callers. In addition, the Quit Line is also offering financial assistance with other non-nicotine pharmaceutical quitting products. The Quit Line will help provide Chantix for the new low price of $25 per month and Bupropion (also known as Zyban) for $5 per month, with a prescription from the enrollee’s medical provider.

There is also a program to assist pregnant women who may be tobacco users. The Montana Tobacco Quit Line Pregnancy and Postpartum Program provides ongoing support with up to nine calls during pregnancy and after delivery. Free nicotine replacement therapies are available with a prescription from the enrollee’s medical provider. Other benefits of this program include a small reward card for each completed call.

Quitting tobacco can be the most important thing you can do for your health. The US Food and Drug Administration has not approved smokeless tobacco or e-cigarettes as successful cessation devices. “Use of these products may hinder your success of quitting tobacco,” says Sonia Young, with the Phillips County Coalition for Healthy Choices.

The Montana Tobacco Quit Line is a free service available to all Montanans who would like to quit using tobacco products. Calling the Quit Line is toll-free at 1-800-QUIT NOW (1-800-784-8669), or visit the website at http://www.QuitNowMontana.com to enroll. Make your New Year’s resolution today