Annual report shows more Oklahomans seeking help, boosting audit rates
OKLAHOMA CITY — A new report highlights the recent success of the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline, a program of the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET). The report shows an increase in registrations as well as impressive quit rates and high customer satisfaction.
The Helpline’s annual report for fiscal year 2024 (FY24) shows more than 27,000 registrations, 5% more than the previous fiscal year. Each registration shows how the Helpline plays a crucial role in helping Oklahomans take steps toward a healthier, tobacco-free life while it meets or exceeds national benchmarks in many categories. The report covers the period from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024.
Beyond the increase in registrations, Helpline participants reported notable success quitting tobacco. In a 7-month follow-up survey, 44.4% of participants said they had remained tobacco-free for at least 30 days — well above the 30% success rate considered a national benchmark. This year also marked a milestone for the Helpline, as more participants signed up online (52.4%) than by any other method for the first time in its history.
“This report shows the Helpline is changing the lives of Oklahomans who want to quit tobacco and proves that Oklahoma is leading the way in helping people quit,” said TSET Executive Director Julie Bisbee. “By investing in these services now, we’re creating healthier communities and saving millions in future health care costs.”
Nearly 97% of Helpline users said they were satisfied with the support they received. This year, the Helpline reached people in all 77 counties in Oklahoma.
Call 1-800-QUIT NOW (1-800-784-8669), text READY to 34191 or visit OKhelpline.com to explore all the free services and resources available to Oklahomans. Connect with the Helpline through social media by liking the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline on Facebook or following @OKhelpline on Instagram.
# # #
The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline is a free service for Oklahomans wanting to help themselves, loved ones, patients or employees live tobacco free. Funding is primarily provided by the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust, 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 had more than half a million registrations 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 Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) serves as a partner and bridge builder for organizations 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, cultivating innovative and life-changing research and 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. To learn more, go to Oklahoma.gov/TSET.
TSET – Better Lives Through Better Health