Sponsored content provided by Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line
Beginning March 1, the Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line will expand its free services to help people quit smoking, vaping, or other tobacco use. Now, in addition to free calls, the Quit Line will offer free texting and online chatting with live quit coaches.
And, for a limited time, the Quit Line will offer an eight-week supply of nicotine patch, gum, or lozenge, or a combination of nicotine replacements.
Additionally, participants will receive up to five proactive calls from the Quit Line for free coaching support.
The online chats, texts, and calls, in combination with more medical support, should result in more people having success in quitting, said Chris Hollenback, communications manager for the UW Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention (CTRI) and its Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line.
“We know that when people get medication plus counseling, they’re more than twice as likely to quit,” Hollenback said.
In the past, participants would receive two weeks worth of nicotine patches, gum or lozenges, and have to call in to the Quit Line for additional support; now, in addition to an eight-week supply of nicotine replacement, you can text with a live counselor, and the phone support will come to you.
“Usually people will just call once,” Hollenback said. Additional check-ins from trained counselors will, ideally, help people quit and stay quit.
“We find that people say, ‘The Quit Line checked on me, they care,’’’ Hollenback said. “And of course, we care whether we have the funding to keep calling folks back or not. People appreciate the calls back.”
When supplies run out, services will revert to a two-week supply of medications and coaching calls only initiated to the Quit Line by the person who wants to quit smoking, chewing or vaping.
In other words, now is the time to quit.
Beginning March 1, there’s a new number to text for Quit Line services. Now, text READY to 34191.
Wisconsin residents 13 and up can still reach the Quit Line 24/7 by calling 800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669) or by visiting WiQuitLine.org. Teens 13-17 who want to specifically quit vaping can text VAPEFREE to 873373 for free help via text.
“We’re excited to offer these new services to help Wisconsin residents quit tobacco use,” said Quit Line Coordinator Kate Kobinsky. “They get more choice and a better experience. When you’re ready to quit, we’re ready to help.”
