Adult Smoking Rate Continues Down...(mpared to whitessmoking rates are also s...),Health

The agency is working on innovations to reach groups that continue to use tobacco at higher rates. A partnership with Head Start to screen and refer smokers is being expanded, and cessation advertising will target low income smokers. The agency has also expanded access to free nicotine replacement medications through its toll-free quit line (1-800-QUIT-NOW, and in Spanish, 1-877-2NO-FUME).

"We have worked with the Department of Health to develop quit programs and materials that are relevant to American Indians," said Kelly Baze, Prevention Coordinator for the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe. "The partnership has provided us with information, training and resources to better serve our community and ensure that in the future, members are aware of important health information."

It's not easy quitting cold turkey. That's why the Washington Tobacco Quit Line provides free help to people around the state. More than 95,000 Washington residents have called the toll-free quit line for free information, counseling, a personalized quit plan, local quitting resources and quit kits. There is also a quit line Web site (http://www.quitline.com).

While Washington has made significant headway in lowering smoking rates, there is still work to do. The tobacco industry spends more than $160 million each year in our state to hook smokers. About 45 youth start smoking each day, and about 8,000 people in our state die every year from tobacco-related diseases.

Visit the Washington Department of Health Web site at http://www.doh.wa.gov for a healthy dose of information.

SOURCE Washington State Department of Health Copyright©2007 PR Newswire.

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