TOBACCOFREE/Quitline Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 15, 2008
Contact: Pam Schultetus, (850) 668-2222,
media@tobaccofreeflorida.com
FLORIDA QUITLINE CALLS HIT NEW RECORD
Tallahassee, FL - Florida's Quitline is experiencing heavy call volume from Floridians who are seeking help in overcoming their tobacco addiction. The Quitline broke two records when it recently received a record of 2,600 calls in one day and 150 calls in one minute. The Quitline has received more than 25,000 calls in the first 16 weeks of 2008, exceeding the total for all of 2007. So far this year, 14,682 new participants have received services through the Quitline compared to 4,858 Floridians in 2007.
Cameron Smith, American Cancer Society Quitline Account Manager, credits the television, radio, print, online and billboard advertising efforts of the Tobacco Free Florida campaign for the increase in calls. "We receive calls as early as 5 a.m. when commuters hear about the Quitline on the radio as they are driving to work." All Tobacco Free Florida campaign ads are tagged with the Quitline phone number and offer for free nicotine replacement therapies for cigarette and smokeless tobacco users.
Anyone 18 or older who calls the state's Quitline is eligible to receive free nicotine replacement therapies in the form of patches, lozenges or gum. Floridians with incomes of less than $45,000 a year can get eight weeks of treatment and those with an income of more than $45,000 can get four weeks' worth. Tobacco users who are uninsured can receive additional weeks of treatment with confirmation of uninsured status.
Smith says the people that have the most success at kicking the habit pair the counseling service with the cessation aides. "When tobacco users call the Quitline, they won't just receive patches or gum. The counselor will integrate the replacement therapies into an individual quit plan to ensure success."
The Florida Quitline phone number is 1-877-U-CAN-NOW (1-877-822-6669). Bilingual (English-Spanish) counselors who are specially trained to help tobacco users quit are available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
For more information on the Quitline and Tobacco Free Florida, please contact Pam Schultetus at media@tobaccofreeflorida.com or (850) 668-2222.
