P.C. Coalition for Healthy Choices: Through with Chew Week!

Montana’s smokeless tobacco use prevalence is 14% for adult males, which is more than twice as high as the national average. February 20-26 is “Through with Chew Week,” an entire week dedicated to educating Montanans about the health risks of smokeless tobacco and the health benefits of quitting.

“There is no safe form of tobacco. Smokeless tobacco can cause cancer of the mouth, tongue, cheek, gum, esophagus, and pancreas. It also causes gum disease, tooth decay, and tooth loss,” stated Sonia Young, local Tobacco Prevention Specialist.

The Montana Tobacco Quit Line helps Montanans quit all forms of tobacco use, including smokeless tobacco. To increase your chance of a successful quit, the Quit Line offers eight weeks of free nicotine patches, gum, and lozenges and, with a provider referral, three months of Bupropion. Montanans who use smokeless tobacco and receive Quit Line coaching along with nicotine patches, gum, or lozenges have a quit rate of 46%.

In addition to the Quit Line, your local medical offices and health department in Malta have “Through with Chew” kits available for free. These kits contain information on the Quit Line, tips to help you with a successful quit, a dental mirror, a free can of Smokey Mountain Chew (a tobacco-free and nicotine-free substitute), and other goodies. Stop by any of the medical offices to pick up your kit today.

Quitting tobacco can be the most important thing you do for your health. Start your quit today and be Through with Chew in 2022! To get started, call 1-800-QUIT NOW (1-800-784-8669) or visit http://www.QuitNowMontana.com.

American Indian Commercial Tobacco Quit Line: 1-855-5AI-QUIT or MTAmercianIndianQuitLine.com

My Life, My Quit (Under 18): 1-855-891-9989, MyLifeMyQuit.com, or text “Start” to 36072.