Tobacco Prevention Notes
Now has never been a more important time to quit smoking. Start with day one. Let the Great American Smokeout® event on Thursday, Nov. 19, be your day to start your journey toward a tobacco-free life.
COVID-19 made its official appearance in Montana last March and, since then, a lot of things in our daily lives have become uncertain. As we have learned more about COVID-19, one thing has become more certain: being a former or current smoker increases one’s risk of severe complications from COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified current and former smoking as an underlying medical condition placing people of any age at an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
With COVID-19 cases in Montana reaching all-time highs, the health of your lungs has never been more important. On Nov. 19, join with other Montanans across the state and celebrate the Great American Smokeout® by making that day the first day of your tobacco-free life.
The Great American Smokeout® raises awareness about the deaths and chronic diseases caused by smoking. Around 25 percent of Montanans still use tobacco, and tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the United States. Every year, 1,600 Montanans die from smoking-related illness. tobacco prevention specialist, A.J. Allen, Roosevelt County Health Department, said, “Now, it’s more important than ever to quit smoking and start the journey toward healthier lungs. We’re challenging all Montanans who use tobacco to stop for the day in hopes that they will quit for good.”
The Montana Tobacco Quit Line is here to help Montanans quit tobacco for good, with free coaching and free nicotine replacement therapy. Montanans who use the Quit Line are 7-10 times more likely to quit for good. New to the Quit Line this year is live online coaching. All Montanans can now engage in coaching either by phone call or online chat. Visit QuitNow-Montana.com and Quit Your Way with the Montana Tobacco Quit Line.
The Quit Line also offers special programs for American Indians, pregnant women, youth and young adults. Visit Quit-NowMontana.com and click on Quit Your Way to learn more about these special programs.
