Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline Offers FREE Support for Oklahomans Ready To Be Through With Chew

OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 08, 2023) — Through With Chew Week, Feb. 19-25, is an initiative to reduce the use of smokeless tobacco in Oklahoma and across the nation. In support of the event, the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline reminds Oklahomans of the dangers of smokeless tobacco and offers FREE help to quit.

The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline is a program of the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET).

“Through With Chew Week is a great opportunity for Oklahomans to learn about the negative health effects of smokeless tobacco and encourage them to think about the impact tobacco has on their overall health,” said Julie Bisbee, TSET executive director. “The Helpline is here to help Oklahomans who are trying to quit using smokeless tobacco or who want to support their loved ones through the quitting process.”

Smokeless tobacco is even more habit forming than cigarettes because it contains up to four times as much addictive nicotine. The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline encourages users to understand the facts about smokeless tobacco and think about quitting during Through With Chew Week.

The Helpline offers at least a free two-week supply of nicotine patches, gum or lozenges to those who register. Smokeless tobacco users often find the nicotine lozenges particularly helpful in curbing cravings during the quitting process.

No matter how long you’ve dipped, quitting has numerous benefits. Almost immediately, your breath will smell better, your mouth will begin healing and you won’t have to worry about stains on your face and teeth. Plus, you’ll be healthier overall. Smokeless tobacco is linked to mouth, throat and pancreas cancer, along with an increased risk of heart disease and stroke.

Making the decision to quit smokeless tobacco is not an easy one, and that’s why the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline provides FREE support. Call 1-800-QUIT NOW (1-800-784-8669) or visit OKhelpline.com to explore the free services and resources available to Oklahomans. You can also connect with the Helpline through social media by liking the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline on Facebook or following @OKhelpline on Twitter and Instagram.

Oklahoma teens ages 13-17 who are struggling to quit smokeless tobacco are encouraged to enroll in My Life, My Quit for free help. The service is free and confidential. Simply text “Start My Quit” to 36072 or visit MyLifeMyQuit.com to get started.

My Life, My Quit is also funded by TSET.

###

The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline is a free service for Oklahomans wanting to help themselves, loved ones, patients or employees live tobacco free. Funding is primarily provided by the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust, in partnership with the Oklahoma State Department of Health, Oklahoma Health Care Authority, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline has served more than 490,000 Oklahomans since 2003 and has been ranked among the top quitlines for reaching tobacco users seeking treatment for the last 10 years by the North American Quitline Consortium.

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

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

TSET – Better Lives Through Better Health