ANNOUNCER:
Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death in the nation killing more than 400,000 Americans every year – including 8,000 here in Washington state.

 To help people quit smoking, the Washington State Department of Health established a quit line that provides free counseling on how to kick the habit. Department of Health Secretary Mary Selecky.

Mary Selecky/Washington State Health Secretary
Quote: “The department created the toll-free quit line 1-877-270-STOP. For the first time in our state, people can call and get help and it costs them nothing. It’s free to them, the caller.”

Cessation counselor
Quote: “Now how soon after you’ve finished your meal do you have that cigarette? Immediately? Do you think it might be possible that you could fit in another activity right after you finish a meal so you can delay having a cigarette?”

ANNOUNCER:
The Tobacco Quit Line offers one-on-one counseling for smokers who want to quit. It’s available to any resident statewide. Quit line counselors help each caller form an individual plan to quit.

Andrew Roberts, Tobacco Quit Line Counselor
Quote:  “The plans are really uniquely individually tailored. There is no what worked for your neighbor may not work for you what worked with your wife may not work for the husband. And I think that’s what we try to specialize in is making individual plans based on individual challenges and experiences.”

ANNOUNCER:
Quit line’s expert counselors say it’s never to late to quit.

Andrew Roberts, Tobacco Quit Line Counselor
Quote:  “I’ve talked to people as young as 13 and as old as 83 and I guess what I’m always kind of inspired by, especially with the older population, is that it’s never too late to make changes in our lives. Even after 60 years of smoking a lot of people will say, you know, I’m really this time. I really want to do it. I’m not going to let it impact my life anymore.”

ANNOUNCER:
In addition to phone counseling, quit line counselors also provide information about additional resources such as insurance benefits, and stop smoking programs in the caller’s area. Callers also receive a free quit kit, information and other materials to assist them to stop smoking.

Mary Selecky, Washington State Health Secretary
Quote:  “Callers receive counseling, a quit kit, and some even get free nicotine replacement therapy like nicotine gum or patches. We also have information online, quitline.com.”

ANNOUNCER:
Callers that have Medicaid or have no health insurance can qualify for free nicotine replacement therapy and receive nicotine patches or gum.

Cessation counselor
Quote:  “Well if you’re interested in quitting in the next 30 days, one thing we might want to talk about is coming up with a quit plan for you.”

ANNOUNCER:
According to the Department of Health, people who use the quit line double their chances of quitting tobacco use.

Mary Selecky, Washington State Health Secretary
Quote:  “About 80 percent of tobacco users who call our quit line make a serious attempt to stop smoking and many have succeeded.”

ANNOUNCER:
About 8,000 Washington residents die every year due to a tobacco-related illness. One resident almost lost her life because of tobacco.

Christie Driskell, Cancer survivor
Quote:  “I was diagnosed with tongue cancer. It is very highly related to smoking. After chemotherapy, radiation and surgery to remove 40 lymph nodes from my neck, I can say now that I am cancer free. Every single time you put a cigarette in your mouth, you are literally poisoning your body. And it will make you sick or it will kill you. As a therapist I also refer people to the quit line. I think it’s a terrific program. I think that it’s available, it’s free, it’s a great resource and I highly encourage anybody to use it.”

ANNOUNCER:
If a person doesn’t want to call the quit line, they can go to quitline.com to receive information, and get tips on quitting. Quit line counselors are available everyday from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. According to the department, if you call after hours, leave a message with contact information and a specialist will call you back. The Tobacco Quit Line number is 1-877-270-STOP (7867). For Spanish speakers, you can all 1-877-2-NO-FUME (266-3862).