Free Quit Line helps make New Year's resolutions real
Trained specialists await phone calls from callers who want to call it quits on tobacco and smoke no more in 2004

After an eight-month hiatus, the state recently reinstated funding for its Oregon Tobacco Quit Line to again provide free professional help to those who want to ring in the New Year with better health, more money in their pocket and a personal sense of accomplishment.

"Quitting smoking or chewing tobacco is one of the top New Year's resolutions," says Nancy Clarke, Quit Line manager at DHS. "This time of year always generates a large number of phone calls ... and we are ready for them."

Experts say the first step for a tobacco user who wants to quit is to pick a date to quit. Clarke says now is a good time of year to do it.

"The New Year's holiday is a great time for people to start a new life. Setting a target date during the next couple of weeks is a good first step toward quitting," Clarke says. "Setting a quit date is only the first step in getting ready to quit."

Another important step is choosing a method to quit. While many people try to quit cold turkey, combining nicotine replacement therapy and counseling seem to have the best success for most people, according to Clarke.

Callers to the Quit Line talk to experienced cessation specialists about how they currently smoke, why they want to quit and what they tried in the past that did and did not work. Specialists then work with the caller to create a personalized quit plan. This may include follow-up phone calls to check progress. Specialists also can make recommendations and answer questions about pharmacological products such as the nicotine patch or gum available in grocery stores and pharmacies. Equally important to success is recognizing the habits and triggers causing the nicotine cravings and finding ways to overcome them.

The Oregon Tobacco Quit Line was established in 1998 and is funded by voter-approved tobacco tax dollars.

The Oregon Tobacco Quit Line toll-free number is 1-877-270-STOP (7867) or 1-877-2 NO FUME (66-3863). Hispanic callers will be connected to Spanish-speaking operators. Hours are Monday to Thursday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.