Help For Arizona Smokers Looking To Quit As Smoking Ban Takes Effect

Smoking in Arizona

There are close to one million adult smokers in the state of Arizona. On May 1st, they will have an added incentive to quit as Arizona implements a statewide smoking ban that prohibits indoor smoking in public places and will require a 20-foot smoke free zone around entrances to businesses.

Policy changes like the new smoking ban, and the recent 80-cent tax increase, will encourage many to initiate a quit attempt. Many smokers can use these changes to their environment as the motivation they need to try to quit. To give them a better chance of succeeding than going "cold turkey," GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Consumer Healthcare recommends that they have access to counseling, behavioral support programs, and FDA-approved safe and effective stop-smoking products.

Nearly 70 percent of smokers nationwide want to quit; however, many people wrongly believe they can simply put down their cigarettes and walk away forever . But while "cold turkey" is the most common method people try, it is also the least successful. In fact, 97 percent of all cold turkey quit attempts fail (3).

"Quitting smoking can be one of the most difficult and most important steps a smoker can take to improve his or her overall health," said Dr. Keith Kaback, Chairman of the Board of the Tucson region American Lung Association, emergency physician at Tucson Medical Center and GSK Consumer Healthcare spokesperson. "With tobacco use being the leading preventable cause of death in the U.S. , it's important to provide smokers who are interested in quitting with tools and resources to help them quit for good."

Quitters can double their chances of success by using therapeutic nicotine products to help reduce craving and nicotine withdrawal symptoms (3). GSK Consumer Healthcare's therapeutic nicotine products, Nicorette gum, NicoDerm CQ patch, and Commit lozenge are designed to provide a temporary alternative source of nicotine, without exposing the quitter to the more than 4,000 chemicals and at least 69 known or suspected carcinogens in tobacco smoke (4). People interested in quitting smoking are encouraged to visit www.Way2Quit.com to create a customized smoking cessation plan based upon their habits, behaviors, and motivations for smoking and quitting.

Giving up smoking is not easy. Smokers benefit from a combination of behavioral support and effective treatments. GSK Consumer Healthcare is offering to help smokers interested in quitting get started on a path to a smoke-free life through the "1-2-3 Second Chances to Quit for Free" program, open to all U.S. residents, 18 years of age or older. The offer is on a first come, first serve basis while supplies last. Details of the program are available at Way2Quit.com. Web visitors choose either one of three types of nicotine replacement therapy products or $37 in coupons which can be redeemed over the course of Nicorette, NicoDerm CQ or Commit therapy. Not every flavor, size and strength is available. They are required to fill out a short enrollment form and answer questions about their smoking habit through the Committed Quitters program, a support program designed to provide coping strategies, advice and incentives to stay smoke-free. Each person will receive an individualized support plan and customized tips from experts and will have access to smoking cessation counselors through 1-877-NO-ASHES five days a week. Way2Quit.com is an educational Web site that enables smokers to develop an initial quit-smoking plan by completing various assessment tools online. The site includes helpful tips, quitting resources and virtual coaches, and access to Committed Quitters. Committed Quitters is a free, tailored Web-based behavioral support program that has been proven to increase a smoker's chances of quitting. Participants receive a customized smoking cessation plan after completing an online questionnaire that gathers information about their habits, behaviors and motivations for smoking and quitting.