Tobacco Prevention Notes
Women are just as likely as men to die from tobacco related illnesses and in Montana 17.3 percent of women currently smoke cigarettes. Montana also has one of the highest prevalences of cigarette smoking among pregnant women in the nation (14.2 percent). This Mother’s Day, give yourself and your child or children the gift of health by quitting smoking.
Moms who smoke while pregnant are exposing their baby to nicotine and other harmful chemicals which puts the baby’s health at risk. Smoking while pregnant increases the chance of preterm delivery which is the leading cause of death, disability, and disease among newborns. Smoking during pregnancy can cause tissue damage to the baby, particularly in the brain and lungs. Smoking while pregnant also increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.
Secondhand smoke is also a concern when it comes to pregnancy and young children. Babies whose mothers smoke are three times more likely to die from SIDS. Babies exposed to secondhand smoke after birth have weaker lungs which increases the risk for many health problems.
Not sure how to quit? No matter what stage of motherhood you are in the Montana Tobacco Quit Line can help. The adult program offers five free coaching calls, eight weeks of free nicotine replacement therapy and three months of reduced cost prescription cessation medication. For pregnant women, there is the Quit Now Montana Pregnancy Program which offers nine free coaching calls with a personalized female coach and cash incentives with each completed coaching session. Call 800-Quit-Now or visit www. QuitNowMontana.com to enroll today in either of these programs.
The Quit Line also offers two programs with dedicated call lines and websites. The American Indian Commercial Tobacco Quit Line connects callers with American Indian coaches. Call 855-372-0037 to connect with a Native coach or visit www.MTAmericanIndianQuitLine. com. The Quit Line’s newest program, My Life, My Quit, is a program just for Montana youth looking to quit any form of tobacco including vaping. Visit www.mylifemyquit.com to enroll or text “start my quit” to 855-891-9989.
Quitting tobacco can be the most important thing you do for not only for your health but the health of your child or children. The Montana Tobacco Quit Line, along with FDA-approved cessation medications available through enrollment, is a proven effective way to help you quit tobacco use successfully. Tobacco users who use the Montana Tobacco Quit Line are seven to 10 times more likely to quit than if they were to try alone.
