Kansas Tobacco Users Have New Resource For 27th Annual
Great American Smokeout
New Quitline Receives More Than 300 Calls in First Week

Millions of people worldwide will quit smoking for a day or longer on November 20 for the 27th annual Great American Smokeout, a nationally recognized event challenging people to stop smoking.

This year Kansans have a new resource to help them stop using tobacco products. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) recently launched the new Kansas Tobacco Quitline, 1-866-KAN-STOP, a 24- hour hotline with trained counselors to provide information and assistance in helping people become tobacco free.

More than 300 Kansans have called the Kansas Tobacco Quitline since its launch just one week ago.

“We are very pleased to see that Kansans are choosing to seek help from our Quitline to stop smoking and using tobacco products,” said Roderick Bremby, KDHE Secretary. “Tobacco use is the number one preventable cause of death in Kansans. With programs like the Quitline, Kansans have a resource not only during the Great American Smokeout, but everyday of the year, to help keep them from becoming a statistic.”

In Kansas, 22% of adults currently smoke cigarettes and more than half are seriously considering quitting within the next six months. According to the 2002 Kansas Youth Tobacco Survey 21% of youth in grades 9-12 currently smoke and more than half want to quit. Quitting results in immediate health benefits for both light and heavy smokers, including improvements in breathing and circulation. The increased risk for coronary heart disease and stroke is substantially reduced after 1 or 2 years of not smoking. When smokers quit, their lungs begin to heal and their risk of lung disease drops. Smoking cessation also improves quality of life and physical functioning.

The 24-hour a day, toll-free Kansas Tobacco Quitline offers tobacco users a confidential and convenient way to access immediate help when they are ready to stop using tobacco or need support to remain tobacco-free. Experienced cessation specialists answer the calls and work with the caller to conduct a personalized analysis of their tobacco addiction and develop a customized Quit Plan to help them succeed in becoming tobacco free.
The Kansas Tobacco Quitline is also designed to assist physicians and health care providers to work with their patients. Health care providers can call the Quitline to obtain office materials to share with patients.

The Kansas Tobacco Use Prevention Program provides resources and technical assistance to community coalitions for development, enhancement and evaluation of state and local tobacco prevention initiatives. For additional information about the Kansas Tobacco Quitline or about Great American Smokeout activities in Kansas contact the Kansas Tobacco Use Prevention Program at 1-877-602-0368 or visit www.phc-inc.com/splash.asp.

Back to KDHE News Release Index