Tobacco
The Washington State Department of Health's free Tobacco Quitline services have ended due to state budget cuts. That means no more quitline coverage for the uninsured in our state. The quitline has helped more than 160,000 Washington state residents since it opened in 2001.
Starting in July 2011, calls to the quitline number - 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) - will be answered by the American Cancer Society Quit for Life® program, which will help people covered by their employer, by commercial insurance or by Medicaid. Tobacco users should check with their employer to see if tobacco cessation coverage is a health benefit. Many employers in Washington cover the cost.
King County residents 18 years and older are still eligible for quitline services through March 2012, thanks to a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to Public Health - Seattle & King County.
Even with lower smoking rates, tobacco-related diseases kill about 7,900 people every year in our state, and tobacco is a major cause of rising health care costs.
Other tobacco-related information online:
Washington State Department of Health Tobacco Web-pages
www.tobacco.org
Tobacco Free Kids
American Lung Association of Washington
American Cancer Society
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