“The Washington State Department of Health is now offering tobacco users help in quitting, launching a new, statewide, toll-free Tobacco Quit Line in time for the Great American Smokeout on Thursday, Nov. 16.The Quit Line, 1-877-270-STOP, is part of the state’s Tobacco Prevention and Control program. It is being paid for with money from the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement with the major tobacco companies. The program will offer tobacco users no-cost cessation counseling and referrals to community-based quit-smoking programs. This is the first time a free ‘tobacco quit line’ has been available in Washington, said Secretary of Health Mary Selecky. It will be a great resource for tobacco users who are ready to quit and need some help. The Quit Line provides good information and support, and can connect callers with the help available in their communities. Telephone-based tobacco cessation programs have proven to be effective, Selecky said. Studies show that support lines significantly increase the number of tobacco users who succeed in their efforts to quit. Washington will use strategies similar to successful programs in other states, such as Oregon and California. Quit Line callers will be provided with: * Individualized, one-on-one counseling from specialists skilled in working with all forms of tobacco addiction. * Assessment of each caller’s readiness to quit and development of a customized quit plan over the phone. * Skill- building and problem-solving advice. * Relapse prevention techniques. * Pharmacological support information. * Referrals to available community cessation support resources. * A Tobacco Quit Kit, including materials tailored to the caller’s needs, readiness and education level. Although the Quit Line is focused primarily on adult tobacco users, special materials will be available in the spring for teens and pregnant women. The Quit Line also has translation services available for non-English speaking callers and, in an effort to accommodate the needs of additional tobacco users, the state has set up a separate Spanish language line as well as a TTY line for the hearing impaired. Tobacco users ready to quit can reach the Quit Line by calling 1-877-270-STOP (7867). Spanish-speaking callers can reach the Spanish Quit Line at 1-877-2 NO FUME. Hearing impaired residents can access the TTY line at 1-877-777-6534. “