QUIT TODAY. It s EASIER than you think. DON T LET TOBACCO CONTROL YOUR LIFE. WE CAN HELP. WHEN YOU RE READY TO QUIT, CALL THE SOUTH DAKOTA QUITLINE 1-866-SD-QUITS.
IN THE BEGINNING, it s about freedom and INDEPENDENCE. Then it s a way to relax or relieve stress. But it doesn t take long for tobacco to become a deadly habit. The good news is there are services, medication, and a whole support system ready to help you quit. If you are ready to quit, thinking about quitting, or know someone who wants to quit, here are a few facts to keep in mind: Quitting is tough but so are you. If tobacco wasn t highly addictive, it d be easy to quit. Sometimes it takes several attempts to quit and stay quit. In fact, the average smoker will try to quit between 8 and 11 times before they kick the habit for good. Nicotine compares with heroin and cocaine in its hold on users and its effects on the brain. The way tobacco is grown, mixed, and processed today has made cigarettes more addictive than ever before. Tobacco addiction can sneak up on you. But it doesn t have to control your life. With the right help, resources, support, and a personalized plan, you can quit for good.
Smoking causes immediate damage Smoking harms nearly every organ of the body. It causes many diseases and reduces the overall health of smokers in general the average smoker will die 13 to 14 years earlier than a nonsmoker. There is NO SAFE LEVEL of exposure to cigarette smoke. When you inhale cigarette smoke, either directly or secondhand, you are inhaling more than 7,000 chemicals: hundreds of these are hazardous, and at least 69 are known to cause cancer. Every inhalation of tobacco smoke exposes our children, our families, and our loved ones to dangerous chemicals that can damage their bodies and result in life-threatening illnesses such as cancer and heart disease. Smoking decreases quality of life Smoking isolates you from family and friends. It smells, it s expensive, and the effects of secondhand smoke on your loved ones can be as deadly for them as smoking is for you. The healthcare costs of smoking related illness and loss of work are staggering, not only for smokers, but for everyone. Smoking causes shortness of breath, increased incidence of asthma and emphysema, and can be directly linked to heart disease, stroke, and almost every type of cancer including: lung, throat, and mouth. Smokers are far more likely to suffer from chronic disease than are nonsmokers. It s the most preventable cause of death More deaths are caused each year by tobacco use than by all deaths from HIV, illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor vehicle injuries, suicides, and murders combined. Ready to breathe easy? We re ready to help. The South Dakota QuitLine offers a number of distinct services designed to help you kick the habit for good. They are all free and we recommend using as many as you need to as often as you need to. South Dakota tobacco users are eligible to receive QuitLine services. If you have quit within the past 30 days and you need help to prevent a relapse, you can also use QuitLine services. Coaching really works Smokers who quit cold turkey have a 5% success rate but people who use a phone coach are more than 2x as likely to quit and stay quit. In fact, when used in combination with cessation medication, nearly one half of tobacco users report no tobacco use after 7 months. Quit Rate (30 dpp) by Requested Services, 2008 to 2013.
Here s what some of the folks who have used the QuitLine have to say: I wanted to quit, but it s hard to do alone. QuitLine made the difference. The people are wonderful. The best part is being free of the costs, the odor it s just good to be free. (Loretta, Rapid City) I realized I can t do it myself. The first step was asking for help. I loved the QuitLine. The second time worked for me. (Ellen, Beresford) We had both smoked cigarettes for almost 20 years. Together, about a pack a day was the norm. Sometimes more. We both very much enjoyed smoking. We didn t want to quit. That is until I couldn t get up in the morning without a couple coughing fits. It was horrible. I knew it was time to do something. We made the move to contact our doctors and the QuitLine. It was one of the best things we ve ever done in our lives! (Bob & Cari, Sioux Falls)
The QuitLine worked for me for 8 months. I had a setback but I want to call and try again. Please don t go away. (Cindy, Eureka) I was reaching out for help. QuitLine was my only source. They gave me hope. They gave me my life back. (Clyde, Sioux Falls) The cost of cigarettes was higher than my rent. QuitLine was there no matter what. Even that one Saturday night. They re amazing. (Scott, Mitchell) I just decided enough was enough. Didn t like the way I smelled. When minutes felt like hours, they had wonderful little tips. (Patrick, Rapid City) We put it on Facebook and are telling everyone we have quit with the help of the SD QuitLine. Thank you for everything. (Bobbie, Beresford) I was a die-hard smoker and would sometimes smoke 2 cigarettes back to back on breaks at work this has been a life-changing thing for me thank you so much for your part in helping me. (Marilyn, Rapid City)
2 Ways to Start Quitting YOU CALL US PHONE COACHING A phone call is all it takes. When you call, a trained coach will walk you through a brief set of questions to get you registered. As soon as you are registered, your coaching sessions will begin. You will receive up to four scheduled phone sessions with your coach and extra support as needed. Here s what to expect: 1-866-SD-QUITS (1-866-737-8487) Open Monday - Friday 7am - 11pm Saturday 8am - 5pm CT Free personal live quit coach Free cessation medication Enrollment takes approximately 10-15 minutes Coaching Sessions 1 & 2 You ll work together to design a personalized quit plan You ll set a quit date Your quit coach will: Guide you through triggers, cravings, and managing stress Offer coping strategies and discuss withdrawal symptoms Motivate you to succeed and become tobacco-free Discuss medications available WE CALL YOU Go to www.sdquitline.com/enroll Tell us the best time to call you A QuitLine coach will contact you When you re ready to quit, we re here to help. When you re ready to quit, we re here to help. Coaching Session 3 This session is scheduled on your quit date. Your coach will: Provide support and encouragement Provide additional information on medication Coaching Session 4 This session is scheduled as a follow up after your quit date. Your coach will: Review your quit strategies Address relapses Coaching Session 5 This is your graduation session! Your coach will: Review your contact information for follow up purposes Issue a graduation letter Review any additional suggestions Answer any questions
DO YOU WANT TO QUIT? We re READY when you are. Here are a few tips to help you along the way: Call the toll-free South Dakota QuitLine at 1-866-SD-QUITS (1-866-737-8487). List your reasons to quit. Keep them in mind through tough times. Build a quit team. Your friends, family, doctor, dentist. Let them know you re quitting so they can support you. Set a quit date. Mark your calendar and let everyone know. Tune in to your triggers. Plan other things you can do at those times. Make your quit day different and special. Change your routine, exercise. Drink lots of water and do something special for yourself. Don t give in to cravings. These usually last for only 3-5 minutes. Be prepared for a slip or relapse. It s not a sign of failure. But don t give up! facebook.com/sdquitline www.sdquitline.com 20,000 copies of this document were printed by the SD Dept. of Health at a cost of 24 each.