Ohioans are getting what they need to kick the habit

Ohioans are getting what they need to kick the habit

Ohio smokers are running out of excuses not to quit.

And smokers in the Youngstown-Warren area are fortunate enough to reside in one of five metropolitan areas of the state where extraordinary access to free anti-tobacco therapy is being made available through local hospitals.

Underwriting this aggressive approach to stamp out tobacco use is the Ohio Tobacco Prevention Foundation, which is funded with a fraction of Ohio’s share of the 46-state settlement with tobacco companies eight years ago. Unfortunately, two administrations have diverted settlement money away from anti-tobacco programs at a rate that has left the foundation with only enough resources to fight tobacco addiction for the next 10 years or so. But that’s been the subject of other editorials in the past, and will probably be the subject of future commentary.

Today, we write not to bury the OTPF, but to praise it.

It starts with a call

The foundation has been operating a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week telephone hot line, 1-800-QUITNOW (that’s 1-800-784-8669). The number has been providing a telephone coaching service for people who want to quit, and will continue to do that. It will be adding an online cessation program. And now, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Toledo and Youngstown-Warren will have tobacco treatment centers operating at selected hospitals.

In the Mahoning Valley, Humility of Mary Health Partners will offer Quit Now services at St. Elizabeth’s in Youngstown and St. Joseph’s in Warren.

In addition, anyone enrolling in an OTPF cessation program is eligible for two free weeks of nicotine patches, provided there aren’t medical reasons for them not to use the patch. A full regimen of patches is eight weeks, and the OTPF has partnered with a number of health insurance providers in the state to make the additional six weeks free. People who don’t have such insurance coverage will be given coupons that will allow them to buy patches for just $10 for each additional two-week supply.

There are few widespread behaviors that are as certain to have a deleterious effect on a person’s health as smoking. It is not easy to break any addiction. And breaking some can be much more complex and expensive.

But now, breaking a tobacco addiction is within reach of almost any Ohioan.

Progress in the Valley

In recent years, Mahoning Valley residents have responded to calls to quit smoking.

Mahoning County, which once had one of the highest smoking rates in the nation, is now below the state average, with smokers making up 18.7 percent of the county’s population.

That’s good, but the area can do better.

And thanks to the new programs at St. Elizabeth’s and St. Joseph’s, it will be even easier.

It all starts with a phone call to 1-800-QUITNOW. Counselors are standing by to discuss what options are available and which ones are best for each caller.