Smokeless Tobacco Users Encouraged To Quit During Through With Chew Week, February 18-22

SMOKELESS TOBACCO USERS ENCOURAGED TO QUIT DURING THROUGH WITH CHEW WEEK, FEBRUARY 18-22

Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline offers FREE Support to Oklahomans

OKLAHOMA CITY – February 18, 2019 – While youth vaping may be the topic on everyone’s lips, nearly 10% of high school students and more than 7% of Oklahoma adults use smokeless tobacco.

During Through With Chew Week, Feb. 18-22, smokeless tobacco users are encouraged to quit, either on your own or by calling the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline (1-800-784-8669 or OKhelpline.com), a program of the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET). Oklahomans have access to the free services through Helpline regardless of whether they smoke, dip or chew.

Smokeless tobacco is extremely addictive and holding an average sized dip in your mouth for 30 minutes delivers as much nicotine as four cigarettes. In addition, smokeless tobacco causes cancer of the mouth, throat, cheek and gums, and contributes to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline provides FREE support to those thinking about quitting smokeless tobacco, including a two-week supply of patches, gum or lozenges for registered participants, text and email support, and phone and web coaching.

“With customizable, complimentary options and resources that can be tailored to your personal preferences and lifestyle, the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline is an asset to Oklahomans whether they use smokeless tobacco or cigarettes,” said Paola Klein, Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline coordinator.

Call 1-800-QUIT NOW or visit OKhelpline.com to explore all the free services available to Oklahomans. The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline’s resources are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Connect with the Helpline through social media by liking the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline on Facebook or following @OKhelpline on Twitter and Instagram.

###

The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline is a free service for Oklahomans who want to quit tobacco. Funding is primarily provided by the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET), in partnership with the Oklahoma State Department of Health, Oklahoma Health Care Authority, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline has served nearly 400,000 Oklahomans since 2003 and has been ranked among the top quitlines for reaching tobacco users seeking treatment for the last 10 years by the North American Quitline Consortium. 

The Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) serves as a partner and bridge builder for organizations working towards shaping a healthier future for all Oklahomans. TSET provides leadership at the intersections of health by working with local coalitions and initiatives across the state, by cultivating innovative and life-changing research, and by working across public and private sectors to develop, support, implement and evaluate creative strategies to take advantage of emerging opportunities to improve the public’s health. TSET – Better Lives Through Better Health. To learn more go to tset.ok.gov.