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Sjonna “sauna” Paulson, APR
(405) 525-8738 or after hours: 596-9399

OKLAHOMA TOBACCO HELPLINE PUTS MUSCLE BEHIND NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS TO QUIT SMOKING
Free Coaching by Phone and Free Patches or Gum Help Oklahomans Quit for Good

OKLAHOMA CITY (December 28, 2009) – The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) is putting some muscle behind Oklahomans who have resolved to quit tobacco for the New Year by providing callers with a free 2-week supply of patches or gum along with free quit coaching.

“New Year’s resolutions are most effective when you are committed to make a change, have a plan and have people around you that support your decision,” said Tracey Strader, TSET executive director. “The Helpline is free and callers work with a Quit Coach® to create a quit plan that includes setting a quit date, getting support from friends and family and identifying strategies to cope with cravings.”

Among those who have used the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline to quit for good are Drew and Jenny, a young couple from Oklahoma City. When asked about their experience, they stressed how easy it was to connect with their Quit Coach.

“I was skeptical about calling because I just couldn’t believe there wasn’t a catch,” said Jenny. “But, they know exactly what you are going through, they genuinely want to help you, no lecture, no pressure, they just want to talk you down off the ledge. Best of all, it’s a totally free service.”

The Helpline is funded by the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET), the Oklahoma State Department of Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Last year, the Helpline served more than 37,000 Oklahomans and is expecting to serve more than 40,000 this year.

The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline operates seven days a week. Services are available to Oklahomans who smoke as well as those who use other tobacco products. Services are also available in Spanish by calling 1-800-793-1552 and for the Deaf or Hard of Hearing through Video Phone at 1-206-494-9650. For more information about the Helpline, go to: www.ok.gov/tset/Programs/Helpline.html. For more information about quitting tobacco use go to: www.smokefree.gov.

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The Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust was established through a constitutional amendment approved by Oklahoma voters in 2000. While most state governments have failed to keep their promise to use tobacco settlement funds for tobacco prevention and other programs to improve health, Oklahomans have created an endowment to assure that funds will be available for these purposes for generations to come. To learn more go to: www.tset.ok.gov.