The CDC just released a report for their national smoking cessation campaign launched in March 2012 called “Tips from former smokers.” Nationally, the ‘Tips’ campaign led to an estimated 1.6 million smokers attempting to quit with 100,000 likely quitting for good. The campaign directed callers to 1-800-QUIT-NOW. If you call from an Arizona zip code you are routed to the Arizona Smokers’ Helpline (ASHLine).
Locally the ‘Tips’ campaign increased calls to the ASHLine by 15%. The additional attention the national campaign brings to quitting highlights the successfulness of the ASHLine. The CDC estimates that the ‘Tips’ campaign spent approximately $200 on each quitter and had a quit rate of approximately six percent. Compare that to the ASHLine where approximately $100 per quitter is spent resulting in a more than 30% quit rate. It’s estimated that every person who quits saves the public about $136,000 over the rest of his lifetime – that’s counting healthcare costs and lost productivity caused by illness and disease.
We continue to help people in Arizona quit using tobacco by using innovative campaigns like Project Quit, and launching new resources like The CIGnal, which is a quitline designed for teen and young adult tobacco users.
