CELEBRATE A TOBACCO-FREE MOTHER’S DAY WITH HELP FROM THE OKLAHOMA TOBACCO HELPLINE

Helpline Also Offers Moms Tips for Talking to Kids About Tobacco

OKLAHOMA CITY – April 25, 2021 — This Mother’s Day, May 9th, Oklahoma mothers, expectant mothers and all women who use tobacco are encouraged to take a step towards a healthier life for themselves and their families by utilizing the FREE services offered by the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline.

About 17% of Oklahoma women smoke, placing them at high risk of smoking-related health issues like infertility, lung cancer, stroke and heart disease. Smoking during pregnancy can cause a baby to be born too early or to have low birth weight – making it more likely the baby will be sick or have to stay in the hospital longer. In addition, children from families that smoke are twice as likely to become smokers, and many mothers say they don’t want to pass tobacco addiction to their children.

Brandi Fullam, of Tulsa, started smoking when she was 11 years old, eventually becoming a two-pack-a-day smoker. Brandi quit smoking when she became pregnant, but quickly began again after the birth of her son, Zamien. More than 50% of female smokers resume smoking within two to six months after giving birth, according to the Oklahoma Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System.

“I decided to quit again when we were driving in the car,” said Brandi. “My son, Zamien, was like, ‘the smoke, it’s bothering me, it’s bothering me,’ but quitting without support was very hard for me. That’s why I called the Helpline. The Quit Coaches were really understanding and caring. With their help, it was a lot easier to quit than I thought it would be.”

For infants and young children, cigarette smoke is especially harmful because their bodies and lungs are not fully developed. Exposure to secondhand smoke can lead to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), ear infections, asthma attacks, bronchitis, pneumonia and more.

To assist mothers and other participants in their own quit journey, the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline offers FREE services that allow participants to select individual options or choose a comprehensive or bundled program of services. These services include text and email support, phone and web coaching, texting and free patches, gum or lozenges. Soon-to-be-moms are eligible for additional one-on-one support so babies can have the best start at life – and receive the gift of a healthier mom.  

The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline offers all mothers, smokers and nonsmokers, resources on how to protect children from the risks of smoking:

  • If you smoke, call 1-800-QUIT NOW or visit OKhelpline.com to learn more about the free, nonjudgmental support offered through Helpline services.
  • Educate your children about the dangers of smoking and tobacco use at an early age.
  • Ask your child about their friends’ attitudes towards tobacco. Discuss peer pressure and how to deal with it.
  • Protect your child by avoiding places that allow smoking.
  • Maintain an entirely tobacco-free home and car.

This Mother’s Day, consider a healthier life for you and your family by thinking about quitting tobacco. Call 1-800-QUIT NOW (1-800-784-8669) or visit OKhelpline.com to explore all the free services and resources available to Oklahomans. Connect with the Helpline through social media by liking the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline on Facebook or following @OKhelpline on Twitter and Instagram.

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Tobacco Stops With Me is a statewide campaign, funded through the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Trust, that provides an efficient, emotional and highly recognizable tobacco-free message for Oklahomans to rally around. By educating the public about the negative effects and impact of tobacco, the goal of Tobacco Stops With Me is to prevent and reduce tobacco use, and improve the health and quality of life of every Oklahoman. Tobacco Stops With Me aims to inspire individuals to make positive changes—not only for their own health, but for the health of the entire state as well. Free resources and more information at StopsWithMe.com.

My Life, My Quit is a free program to help Oklahoma teens, ages 13-17, quit tobacco, including e-cigarettes. Offering tools most utilized by teens, free live texting, web chat and phone calls, My Life, My Quit supports teens through the steps of quitting tobacco to be able to live tobacco free. Funded by the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust, these free services for Oklahoma teens can be found at MyLifeMyQuit.com by texting “Start My Quit” to 36072.

The Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust serves as a partner and bridge builder for organizations shaping a healthier future for all Oklahomans. TSET provides leadership at the intersections of health by working with local coalitions and initiatives across the state, cultivating innovative and life-changing research, and working across public and private sectors to develop, support, implement and evaluate creative strategies to take advantage of emerging opportunities to improve the public’s health. To learn more, visit www.ok.gov/tset.

TSET – Better Lives Through Better Health

For more information, contact:
Thomas Larson, Director of Public Information and Outreach
thomasl@tset.ok.gov
Cell: (405) 642-6860

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The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline is a FREE service for Oklahomans wanting to quit tobacco. Funding is primarily provided by the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET), in partnership with the Oklahoma State Department of Health, Oklahoma Health Care Authority, Oklahoma Employees Group Insurance Division and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline has served more than 365,000 Oklahomans since 2003 and was ranked the top quitline for reaching tobacco users seeking treatment in FY2013 by the North American Quitline Consortium.

The Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) serves as a partner and bridge builder for organizations working towards shaping a healthier future for all Oklahomans. TSET provides leadership at the intersections of health by working with local coalitions and initiatives across the state, by cultivating innovative and life-changing research, and by working across public and private sectors to develop, support, implement and evaluate creative strategies to take advantage of emerging opportunities to improve the public’s health. TSET – Better Lives Through Better Health. To learn more go to: www.ok.gov/tset.

For more information, contact:
Thomas Larson, Director of Public Information and Outreach
thomasl@tset.ok.gov
Direct: (405) 521-4992
Cell: (405) 642-6860

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