TDH Encourages Smokers to "Talk With Your Doctor" for Help Quitting for Good

New Initiative Part of CDC’s “Tips From Former Smokers” Campaign

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Health is encouraging smokers to talk with their doctors, nurses and other health care providers about quitting smoking as part of the national “Talk With Your Doctor” initiative. The effort is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tobacco education campaign, Tips From Former Smokers, in which real people tell how their smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke changed their lives forever, in the hopes of motivating other smokers to quit.

“Our message is simple:  if you’re a smoker, quitting is one of the best things you can do for your health and the health, peace of mind and pocketbooks of the people you love,” said TDH Commissioner John Dreyzehner, MD, MPH. “We want you to have the best chance of success. Don’t wait! Talk with your health care provider today about quitting.”

In Tennessee, 1.2 million adults are current cigarette smokers. Nationally, about one in five adults are current cigarette smokers. The good news:  more than 70 percent of smokers report wanting to quit, and about 50 percent try to quit each year.

Starting May 27, select Tips From Former Smokers ads will include the tagline, “You Can Quit. Talk With Your Doctor for Help.” This call to action is designed to empower patients to ask their doctors and other health care providers to help them quit smoking.

“As physicians, we play an important role in helping motivate our patients to quit smoking, as advice from a health care provider more than doubles the chances a patient will quit successfully,” said Dreyzehner. “Providers should routinely ask patients if they use tobacco and encourage those who do to quit, and patients should feel empowered to ask their providers for help.”

TDH urges Tennessee health care providers to participate in the “Talk With Your Doctor” campaign to extend the impact of this initiative. Providers may find campaign materials including posters, palm cards and videos available at no charge on the TDH website at http://health.tn.gov/twyd/index.shtml.

Tennessee smokers who want help in quitting can also call the toll-free Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669). Information on this free counseling service is also available online at www.tnquitline.com.

CDC offers resources for smokers who want to quit at www.cdc.gov/tips.

The mission of the Tennessee Department of Health is to protect, promote and improve the health and prosperity of people in Tennessee. For more information about TDH services and programs, visit http://health.state.tn.us/.