TSET Program Offers Free Quit Support for Dads
This Father’s Day, June 15, the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline, a program of the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET), encourages dads to take the first step toward a healthier future by quitting tobacco. The Helpline offers free, personalized support to help Oklahomans quit and stay tobacco-free.
Tobacco use remains a serious health issue among Oklahoma men. While 12.5% of men nationwide smoke, the rate in Oklahoma is 16.4% . Smoking increases the risk of lung cancer, stroke, diabetes and heart disease. Secondhand smoke also puts family, friends and coworkers at risk.
“Helping people live longer, healthier lives is at the heart of TSET’s mission,” said Julie Bisbee, TSET executive director. “The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline gives Oklahomans the tools they need to quit tobacco, protect their health and build stronger families.”
The Helpline provides registrants with customized quit plans, text and email support from trained coaches, live online group sessions and free patches, gum or lozenges.
Many parents quit to be a positive example for their children. Research shows kids with parents who smoke are twice as likely to smoke themselves. Quitting smoking protects personal health and encourages healthier choices for the next generation.
Shaun, a father from Edmond, shared his experience. “One day, my son found my cigar wrappers, and he said to me, ‘Dad, you need to quit. I want you to quit.’ It hurt. I was embarrassed. I failed. I am not the ‘I need help guy,’ but I went to the doctor,” Shaun said.
“When my doctor told me about the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline, it opened up a new door. This time, I had people in my corner supporting me, which I didn’t expect. They were so encouraging, and they still are to this day. I couldn’t have done this by myself.”
This Father’s Day, the Helpline encourages families to take these steps to reduce tobacco exposure:
- Avoid places where smoking is allowed to limit exposure to secondhand smoke.
- Keep homes and vehicles 100% tobacco-free.
- Talk with children about how friends influence decisions about tobacco.
- Ask children what they think about tobacco and correct any misinformation.
Starting these conversations early makes a difference. Tobacco Stops With Me, another TSET program, offers free tools to help parents talk with kids about tobacco. Visit TalkAboutTobacco.com for age-specific tips and conversation starters.
To begin a quit journey, call 1-800-QUIT NOW (1-800-784-8669), text READY to 34191 or visit OKhelpline.com. Follow the Helpline on Facebook or @OKhelpline on Instagram for more support.
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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.
Tobacco Stops With Me is a statewide campaign, funded through the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Trust, that provides an efficient, emotional and highly recognizable tobacco-free message for Oklahomans to rally around. By educating the public about the negative effects and impact of tobacco, the goal of Tobacco Stops With Me is to prevent and reduce tobacco use, improving the health and quality of life for all Oklahomans. Tobacco Stops With Me aims to inspire individuals to make positive changes—not only for their own health, but for the health of the entire state as well. Free resources and more information at StopsWithMe.com.
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