CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – For a limited time, all Linn County residents can receive up to 8 weeks of free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) when they call Quitline Iowa at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) or are referred by a healthcare provider.
One of the most common New Year’s resolutions is to quit smoking or using tobacco. The availability of nicotine replacement patches is part of a National Public Health and Prevention effort funded by the Department of Health and Human Services, which will last through March 18th. LCPH is also providing Quitline materials at no cost for healthcare providers, landlords, and colleges to reduce tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke in multi-unit housing complexes.
Quitline helps people quit smoking through evidence-based counseling techniques. The program is free for those who are eligible and includes quitting aids and a quit guide. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), tobacco is the single most preventable cause of disease, disability, and death in the United States. Tobacco kills more people annually than AIDS, vehicular accidents, alcohol, homicide, and suicide combined. In addition to the health benefits of quitting, using tobacco is costly. The average pack-a-day smoker in Iowa would save about $1,900 a year if they quit.
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LCPH hopes that by increasing the amount of nicotine replacement patches, more smokers will say now is the time to quit. For more information about the promotion campaign, call (319) 892-6000. To learn more about Quitline or for individuals interested in quitting, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or go to www.QuitlineIowa.org.