By Mary C. Selecky, Secretary of Health

While many patients know that smoking and using spit tobacco can be harmful to their health, they may not be aware of the free cessation services available to everyone in Washington state. One of the best things a health care provider can do for their patients who use tobacco is make sure they know the benefits of quitting and where they can get help.

A recent study by Partnership for Prevention found that intervening with smokers is one of the three most valuable preventive health services a health care provider can offer, both in terms of saving lives and improving quality of life. The study also discovered that many Americans are not receiving preventive services.

In Washington, the Tobacco Quit Line, funded by the Washington State Department of Health, offers free cessation services to all residents over the age of 18, and provides free nicotine replacement therapy to eligible Medicaid recipients, people who are uninsured and those receiving services through the Indian Health Care system. The quit line also offers tailored quit support for pregnant women who smoke.

Since the quit line started six years ago, more than 80,000 people in our state have called for help, doubling their chance of quitting successfully. Callers talk with a quit coach who provides helpful advice and easy-to-follow informational materials.

You can help with this important work. I hope you’ll consider taking a few minutes to talk with your patients who smoke about the resources available. Here are some tips for a quick intervention:

• Encourage patients to call the toll-free Tobacco Quit Line at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (784-8669), or in Spanish, 1-877-2NO-FUME (266-3863).
• Direct patients to www.quitline.com for quit tips and useful information.
• Order quit line materials for patients, including reference cards and brochures, at www.prt.wa.gov.

Through the efforts of health care professionals, local health care agencies, community organizations, the Washington State Department of Health and many others, the smoking rate in Washington has decreased significantly. The adult smoking rate has dropped to 17.8 percent; that’s a 21 percent decrease since 1999. Smoking among 10th graders has dropped by almost half over the same time period.

While great progress has been made, tobacco use is still the number one cause of preventable death in the state and tobacco-related diseases continue to drain health care resources.

Please talk with your patients about quitting smoking and join with us in making Washington a safer and healthier place to live.