Tobacco Prevention News
Feb. 20-26 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.
Montana’s smokeless tobacco use prevalence is 14 percent for adult males, which is more than twice as high as the national average.
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.
The Montana Tobacco Quit Line helps Montanans quit all forms of tobacco use, including smokeless tobacco. To increase the chances of a successful quit, the Quit Line offers eight weeks of free nicotine patches, gum and lozenges and, with a provider referral, three months of Bupropion. Montanans who use smokeless tobacco and receive Quit Line coaching along with nicotine patches, gum, or lozenges have a quit rate of 46 percent.
In addition to the Quit Line, “Through with Chew” kits will be available for free at Gentle Dental in Wolf Point for their patients. These kits contain information on the Quit Line, tips to help you with a successful quit, a dental mirror, a free can of Smokey Mountain Chew (a tobacco-free and nicotine-free substitute) and other goodies.
Quitting tobacco can be the most important thing you do for your health.
To get started, call 1-800-QUIT NOW (1-800-784-8669) or visit www.Quit-NowMontana.com. Or contact the American Indian Commercial Tobacco Quit Line at 1-855-5AI-QUIT or MTAmercianIndianQuitLine. com. For those under 18, My Life, My Quit (Under 18) can be reached at 1-855-891-9989, MyLifeMyQuit.com or text “Start” to 36072.
