Through With Chew Week Offers Oklahomans an Opportunity to Quit Smokeless Tobacco

Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline offers FREE quit support

OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 11, 2021) — Through With Chew Week, Feb. 21-27, focuses on offering those Oklahomans who use smokeless tobacco the opportunity to quit, with FREE help from the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline, a program of TSET.

“Smokeless isn’t harmless despite what many people may think. Through With Chew Week is an ideal time for Oklahomans to learn about the dangers of smokeless tobacco and to examine the impact tobacco addiction has on their lives,” said Julie Bisbee, TSET Executive Director. “The Helpline is here for Oklahomans who are trying to quit using smokeless tobacco or those 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 than found in cigarettes. The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline encourages smokeless tobacco users to understand the facts about smokeless tobacco and think about quitting during Through With Chew Week. The Helpline also offers at least a two-week supply of nicotine patches, gum or lozenges to those who register for the free service. Smokeless tobacco users often find the nicotine lozenges helpful in curbing cravings while quitting smokeless tobacco.

smokeless tobacco

Smokeless Tobacco Facts

  • Smokeless tobacco contains at least 28 cancer-causing chemicals and can cause oral, pancreatic and esophageal cancer.
  • Sugar in smokeless tobacco may cause decay in exposed tooth roots.
  • Dip and chew can cause your gums to pull away from the teeth where the tobacco is held. The gums do not grow back.
  • Leathery white patches and red sores in the mouth are common and can turn into cancer.
  • Nicotine, found in all tobacco products, is a highly addictive drug that impacts the brain and the body.
  • Dip and chew may contain more nicotine than cigarettes.
  • Holding an average-size dip in your mouth for 30 minutes gives you as much nicotine as smoking three cigarettes.  A two-can-a-week habit results in the same nicotine consumption as a pack-a-day smoker.

The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline provides FREE support to those thinking about quitting smokeless tobacco, including text and email support, phone and web coaching and a two-week supply of patches, gum or lozenges for registered participants.

“With free options and tools that can be customized and combined to provide the best fit for you, the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline is a tremendous public asset to Oklahomans wanting to quit tobacco and better engage full, healthy living,” said Jon Hart, Ph.D., Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline director.

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