NC Department of Health and Human Services

By the time the ‘smoke’ had settled on Nov. 20– the Great American Smoke-Out Day – 823 North Carolina tobacco users called QuitlineNC to learn more about quitting smoking.

It was a busy day. Usually, the QuitLineNC receives 50 to 70 calls.

But it also was a day of celebration for the program. Of those who called, 768 signed up to develop a quit plan with a QuitlineNC coach. Of those, more than 450 registered for eight weeks of free nicotine patches.

The American Cancer Society marked the third Thursday of November as its Great American Smoke-Out Day. This year, the Tobacco Prevention and Control Branch celebrated Nov. 20 by offering eight weeks of free nicotine patches to anyone over age 18 who called QuitlineNC (1-800-QUIT-NOW) from a North Carolina telephone number and selected a quit date.

Since QuitlineNC is available every day, 24 hours a day, those calling QuitlineNC any time on Nov. 20 were able to receive free nicotine patches. On other days, the program provides free two-week nicotine patch starter kits for those on Medicare, Medicaid, or those uninsured.

“We found this wonderful opportunity to provide North Carolina tobacco users who want to quit a little extra help on Great American Smoke-Out day,” said Joyce Swetlick, Director of Tobacco Cessation Services for the Tobacco Prevention and Control Branch, DPH. “Our public health and clinical partners really came through by sharing information on the free patches program to people who use tobacco in their communities.”

The Division of Public Health created and sent information, flyers and other templates to all QuitlineNC partners. Twitter support included Tweets that linked to two videos – one explaining how nicotine patches work and one showing a grateful former smoker meeting her telephone Quit Coach in person for the first time. Local health departments distributed tweets, flyers and news releases, generating at least 14 news stories or blog postings around the state.

“Nicotine patches, along with the counseling that QuitlineNC provides, can triple the chances that people will quit tobacco use successfully,” Swetlick said. “We are so grateful to everyone who made sure smokers in their communities were aware of the offer.  It is especially gratifying because many of those who called could not afford to purchase nicotine patches on their own.”

Want to quit? For people enrolled on the State Health Plan, eight weeks of patches are provided at no cost, any time.

For more information on nicotine patches: http://tinyurl.com/pafv5x4

See a video of a Quit Coach meeting Faye, someone she helped quit:  http://tinyurl.com/o959u3a