Montana DPHHS Issues Great American Smokeout Challenge

November 12, 2007 -- State health officials are encouraging individuals who don’t smoke or use spit tobacco to ‘adopt’ someone who does for one day to help them resist the urge to smoke or dip into a can of tobacco.

That day is Thursday, Nov. 15, 2007. The concept is part of the annual nationwide campaign dubbed the Great American Smokeout and is promoted by the American Cancer Society and the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS).

The event challenges people to stop using tobacco, if only for one day, and raises awareness of the many effective ways to quit for good, says Linda Lee, section supervisor of the Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program (MTUPP) for DPHHS.

In addition to other factors, Lee says when smokers make the effort to designate a quit day, it really can make a big difference. “When smokers choose a quit day in advance, receive support from family, friends and coworkers, and get help from free services like the Montana Tobacco Quit Line, they are much more likely to be successful,” she said.

Montana Tobacco Quit Line data indicates that nearly one third of those who complete the program remain smoke free after one year. The Tobacco Quit Line, available toll-free at 1-866-485-QUIT (7848), is a free service administered with MTUPP funding that offers a four-week supply of nicotine replacement therapy, guidance from quit coaches who help each caller develop a quit plan, five calls with a coach, and a self-help cessation guide.
The 2005 Montana Clean Indoor Air Act prohibits smoking indoors in public places. That law has been effective, but there is more than can be done, Lee says. “We know that smoke-free laws encourage smokers to quit, but we also know they need our help to be successful,” she said.

When Montana’s smoke-free law is fully implemented to include bars and casinos in 2009, the need will be even greater, and the Tobacco Quit Line will be ready, she adds.

According to the Montana Adult Tobacco Survey, more than two-thirds of Montanans support the Clean Indoor Air Act’s upcoming requirement for bars and casinos to be smoke-free. The annual survey, which is conducted by MTUPP under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, gathers information about individuals’ tobacco use, their efforts to quit, their exposure to secondhand smoke and their opinions about tobacco-related public policies.

Lee acknowledges how difficult it can be for people to stop using tobacco products. But, it’s events like the Great American Smokeout that help spur discussion. “There is no better time to spread the word and to stand up against tobacco addiction,” she said. “This annual event is a great opportunity for Montanans to support each other in our efforts to combat the devastating influence of a product that, when used as intended, kills people.”

This year marks the 31st anniversary of the Great American Smokeout.

Source: Montana DPHHS

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