New initiatives to stop Americans smoking

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced today a series of initiatives designed to help Americans quit smoking. The initiatives include the opening of a national quitline number (1-800-QUITNOW) that puts users in touch with programs that can help them give up tobacco. In addition, a new HHS Web site offers online advice and downloadable information to make cessation easier.

The Secretary also announced plans to make all HHS campuses tobacco-free, and to make all HHS employees who use tobacco eligible for participation in cessation programs. He made the announcements after a meeting with members of the CEO Roundtable on Cancer and the tobacco control community.

"What starts as a single puff can become a death sentence for millions of Americans," said Secretary Thompson. "Americans want to quit smoking, and they should quit smoking. These initiatives will help Americans kick the habit and save their own lives."

The toll-free number (1-800-784-8669) is a single access point to the National Network of Tobacco Cessation Quitlines. Callers are automatically routed to a state-run quitline, if one exists in their area. If there is no state-run quitline, the call goes to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) quitline. As part of the network, HHS' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provided funding to 49 states and the District of Columbia to either enhance their existing quitline or to create one.

Quitlines offer advice, support and referrals to local cessation services. Scientific evidence shows quitlines are effective tools that help smokers quit. Cigarette smoking is the nation's leading preventable cause of death and disease, causing about 440,000 premature deaths each year.

"I ask all doctors and nurses to encourage every tobacco user they see to call this number as a supplement to any medication they recommend," Secretary Thompson said.

The establishment of the national quitline fulfills a pledge that the Secretary made in February 2004.

The new Web site includes the NCI's direct quitline number and an interactive map with toll-free state quitline numbers. The site also offers instant messaging text chat with an NCI specialist in tobacco cessation, during specified hours of operation. Always available is information such as a step-by-step guide to managing the process of quitting.

HHS also has worked with WebMD to train physicians to better help smokers to give up tobacco. Secretary Thompson encouraged all physicians to take the free training, for which Continuing Medical Education (CME) credit is available.

Secretary Thompson said that beginning Nov. 18 -- the date of the Great American Smokeout -- HHS employees who use tobacco will get greater access to cessation programs. If the employee's health insurance does not cover cessation services, a new HHS program will provide medication as well as support in making lifestyle changes.

The department also will make all HHS properties tobacco-free. This means no smoking or tobacco use anywhere on HHS properties (as legally allowed). The program, to begin Jan. 1, 2005, will make HHS the first federal department to be so stringent in banning tobacco use.