National
 
Study Examines Effectiveness of Various Smoking Cessation Aids
A study published in the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment (Volume 28, Issue 1, 2005) found that the smoking cessation aids Nicoderm CQ patches and Commit lozenges are effective in helping the heaviest smokers quit. In a double blind study, 28.4% of quitters who used the patch remained smoke free after 6 months, compared to 8% for quitters using a placebo. Likewise, 22.1% of quitters aided by lozenges were still smoke-free after 6 months, compared with 6.3% of placebo lozenge users. For more details of the study see the following link:
http://www.news-medical.net/?id=7859

Rutgers Study Examines Self-Perceived Risk From Smoking
Researchers at Rutgers University in NJ found that American smokers are underestimating their risk from smoking. As many as 50% of smokers reported they believed that exercise could reverse most of the effects of smoking. Thirty-five percent stated they thought genes were more responsible for causing lung cancer than smoking. Most respondents could not list any other illnesses caused by smoking besides lung cancer. Information can be found in Nicotine and Tobacco Research, Volume 6, Number 2/April, 2005.

CMS to Cover Cost of Cessation Counseling
In accordance with research finding that “you are never too old to quit smoking,” the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have determined that quitting tobacco is healthy at any age, and will thus start covering the cost of cessation counseling for qualified Medicare clients. The decision takes effect immediately. The benefit is available to clients who have an illness caused or complicated by their tobacco use, including if medicine or treatment for their disease is affected by tobacco use. To limit the cost of the program, Medicare will cover up to two quit attempts per year with each consisting of four counseling sessions of either intermediate or intense courses of treatment. Counseling must be administered by a Medicare qualified practitioner. The new policy does not cover telephone or web-based counseling and does not cover the costs of other quit aids, such as nicotine patches and gum. However, CMS may soon cover prescribed cessation aids. More information is available at:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MEDICARE_SMOKERS?SITE=
CAWOO&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services:
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/media/press/release.asp?Counter=1395

NASCAR and GlaxoSmithKline Promote Cessation
NASCAR and GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare continue their partnership to promote smoking cessation. Legendary racer Richard Petty has sponsored the “Quitting Crew,” a group of NASCAR fans chosen to be supported in their aim to quit smoking. The goal is to have the “Quitting Crew” and Petty motivate other fans to quit. More information available at:
http://www.prnewswire.com/news/index_mail.shtml

Comprehensive Statewide Tobacco Cessation Project Launches Website
The Comprehensive Statewide Tobacco Cessation Leadership Project is an ongoing project designed to assist tobacco control programs to expand tobacco cessation services in their states. The Project brings teams from eight states together in a national pilot to provide state-of-the-art technical support to help state cessation programs become more comprehensive and successful. This ongoing project held its launch workshop on February 24-25, 2004 and a second annual workshop on February 2-3, 2005. The workshops allowed participants to learn about successful cessation programs and strategies used in other states and to discuss unique challenges and potential strategies.

The Project has launched a website containing resources gathered during the meetings. Materials on the site include extensive cessation profiles of the participating states, agendas and presentations from the workshops, a participant list, and links to additional resources. You can access the website at:
http://www.ttac.org/leadership/index.html.

Website Supporting Quitting “Cold Turkey” Remains Popular
WhyQuit.com, one of the nation’s few and oldest “cold turkey” quit assistants, reports hits on their site increased three-fold over the past year. While other sites and quit-lines advocate use of Nicotine Replacement products, quitting cold turkey is the only means supported on the WhyQuit site. The site offers stories, facts, history and a chance for peer support amongst quitters. A full story on the program is available at:
http://www.kntimes.com/fitness/fullstory0305-insight-Cold+Turkey+
Quitters+Gobble+Up+Education-status-1-newsID-78.html
The following link will direct you to the WhyQuit site: http://www.whyquit.com

States

Alabama: The Alabama Public Health Department is starting a 24-hour quit-line, 1-800-QUIT NOW, to help people stop using tobacco. The quit-line provides free counseling to people who want to stop smoking or chewing tobacco. Additionally, the program offers print materials, referrals to in-person counseling, and coupons for products to assist in a person’s quitting effort. About one quarter of the Alabama over 14 population are smokers. For more information, please see:
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050402/
NEWS/504020341/1007/NEWS02

Minnesota: The Fond du Lac Reservation is responding to some dramatic statistics. Lung cancer rates and deaths are twice as high for American Indians as they are for white people in Minnesota. An 8 week cessation program was developed based on an American Lung Association program and customized to the Native Ojibwe culture. The Wiidoowkowishin (Help Me) Program recognizes and addresses the differences in sacred use and daily abuse of tobacco products. The program is partially funded by the Minnesota Partnership for Action Against Tobacco (MPAAT). For the full story see:
http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/news/local/10941988.htm

Montana: In the first month after the tobacco tax in Montana increased by a dollar, the number of calls to the state quit-line increased from 380 to 3483. The quit-line offers phone counseling; a six-week session is accompanied by 6 weeks of Nicotine Replacement therapy. About 65 percent of all quit line callers enroll in the counseling and 77% of those take advantage of the nicotine patches or gum. Montana contracts the quit-line through National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver. Full story at:
http://www.mtstandard.com/articles/2005/02/08/newsstate/hjjejhjbjcebgd.txt

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