Resolve to Quit Smoking in the New Year

Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine Offers Support to Smokers Who Want to Quit

NASHVILLE - New Year's Day is the most popular day each year for deciding to adopt healthier habits, including quitting smoking. While quitting can be difficult, it can be done, and is easier to accomplish with professional support. Tennesseans have a much greater chance of quitting for good and achieving their New Year's resolution with help from the Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine, 1-800-QUIT-NOW, a free cessation coaching service available to all adult state residents.

"We know how hard it can be to break addiction to tobacco, and we want all Tennessee smokers to know they don’t have to go it alone," said Health Commissioner Susan R. Cooper, MSN, RN. "The QuitLine is available when they’re ready to start the quitting process, and is a valuable tool to help them accomplish the goal of living tobacco-free."

The Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine offers personalized support for Tennessee residents who want to quit smoking and/or other tobacco products by connecting them with trained quit coaches to guide them through the quitting process. Callers will receive ongoing professional coaching via individually scheduled calls with a quit coach personally assigned to them. This convenient and confidential service is free and available to Tennessee residents in both English and Spanish. The service is also available for the deaf and hard-of-hearing at TTY: 1-877-559-3816.

QuitLine callers also have complimentary access to relapse prevention techniques, printed resource materials, information on nicotine replacement therapies and other services to aid in the quitting process.

Smokers who quit can greatly reduce their risk of developing several types of smoking-related cancer, emphysema, heart disease and stroke. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers these helpful quit tips:

1. Don’t smoke any number or any kind of cigarette. Smoking fewer cigarettes is still harmful, and smoking "low-tar, low-nicotine" cigarettes usually does little good. Nicotine is so addictive, if you switch to lower-nicotine brands you’ll likely just puff harder, longer and more often on each cigarette. The only safe choice is to quit completely.

2. Write down why you want to quit. Do you want to:

•Feel in control of your life?

•Have better health?

•Set a good example for your children?

•Protect your family from breathing other people’s smoke?

Really wanting to quit smoking is very important to the success you will have in quitting. Smokers who live after a heart attack are the most likely to quit for good; they're very motivated. Find a reason for quitting before you have no choice.

3. Know that it will take effort to quit using tobacco. Nicotine is habit forming. Half of the battle in quitting is realizing you need to quit. This knowledge will help you cope with the symptoms of withdrawal that can occur, such as bad moods and intense craving to smoke, chew or dip.

4. Half of all adult smokers have quit, so you can too. That’s the good news. There are millions of people alive today who have learned to face life without tobacco products. For staying healthy, quitting is the best step you can take.

5. Get help if you need it. The Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine can help. Call today.

The Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine (1-800-QUIT-NOW or 1-800-784-8669) is a statewide toll-free telephone tobacco cessation treatment program made possible through the Tennessee Department of Health. There is no charge to callers for services. Hours are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. CST.