May 31 is World No Tobacco Day. As part of the event, Quitline Iowa is offering free nicotine patches, gum or lozenges to those who enroll in the program. To find out more, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669), or go to www.quitlineiowa.org.
Quitline Iowa pairs tobacco users with a coach to help determine if patches, nicotine gum or lozenges, or another medication would help them quit for good. The coach also helps those enrolling in the program by:
- Preparing participants for their quit date
- Helping develop an individualized quit plan
- Providing tips and support to live in a smoke-free environment
According to a 2014 evaluation of Quitline services, nearly 25 percent of callers reached for follow-up interviews were able to quit. Among those still smoking, 94 percent said they were going to keep trying to quit, and 85 percent believe Quitline was helpful. Most studies show it takes an average of three tries before a smoker quits successfully.