February 21-27 Is Through With Chew Week
Montana’s smokeless tobacco use prevalence (14 percent) for adult males is nearly twice as high as the national average. Feb. 21-27 is Through with Chew Week, an entire week dedicated to educating Montanans about the health risks of smokeless tobacco and the health benefits of quitting.
“There is no safe form of tobacco. Smokeless tobacco can cause cancer of the mouth, tongue, cheek, gum, esophagus and pancreas. It also causes gum disease, tooth decay, and tooth loss,” A.J. Allen, local tobacco prevention specialist, said. The Montana Tobacco Quit Line helps Montanans quit all forms of tobacco use, including smokeless tobacco. To increase your chance of a successful quit, the Quit Line offers eight weeks of free nicotine patches, gum, and lozenges and, while supplies last, three months of free Chantix. Montanans who use smokeless tobacco and receive Quit Line coaching and use nicotine patches, gum, or lozenges have a quit rate of 46 percent. That quit rate jumps to 76 percent for those who receive coaching and use Chantix.
New this year to the Montana Tobacco Quit Line is free online chat with a quit coach. Visit QuitNowMontana.com to start chatting with a coach. Additionally, Montanans under 25 can now receive coaching via text messaging. Just text “Start” to 36072.
In addition to the Quit Line, Through with Chew kits are available for free while supplies last. These kits contain information on the Quit Line, tips to help you with a successful quit, a free can of Smokey Mountain Chew (a tobacco-free and nicotine-free substitute), and other goodies. Contact Allen, tobacco prevention specialist, at 653-6212 to obtain a kit.
Quitting tobacco can be the most important thing you do for your health. Start your quit today. Montana Tobacco Quit Line: 1-800-QUITNOW or QuitNowMontana. com; American Indian Commercial Tobacco Quit Line: 855-5AI-QUIT or MTAmercianIndianQuitLine. com; My Life, My Quit (Under 18): 855-891-9989, MyLifeMyQuit.com or text 36072.
