Topeka – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) can help those who are ready to quit tobacco in 2016. KDHE’s Kansas Tobacco Quitline offers free cessation support and information online at www.ksquit.org or toll-free at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (784-8669). Tobacco users can also quit with the help of the Kansas Tobacco Quitline’s texting service.

“The free services of the Kansas Tobacco Quitline provide Kansans with effective tools to help them quit smoking or using smokeless tobacco,” said Brandon Skidmore, Director, Bureau of Health Promotion. “Quitting isn’t easy, but working with a Quit Coach can make quitting tobacco easier.”

With the release of the latest Surgeon General’s Report on Smoking and Health, it is clear that despite the progress made in the last 50 years, tobacco use is still an on-going epidemic in the country. According to the latest report,

• One out of three cancer deaths in the U.S. could be prevented if every smoker quit smoking.
• Thirteen different cancers have been identified and causally linked to smoking, up from one cancer identified in the first report published in 1964.
• Eight new diseases have been identified and causally linked to smoking, including diabetes, erectile dysfunction, arthritis, macular degeneration, tuberculosis and ectopic pregnancy. These diseases are in addition to the 14 other chronic diseases identified as causally linked to smoking.
• Secondhand smoke has now been identified as causing stroke in adults. This is in addition to the eight other diseases found in children and adults caused by exposure to secondhand smoke.

KDHE’s Tobacco Use Prevention Program provides resources and assistance to Kansas communities to implement local tobacco prevention initiatives. The program also manages the Kansas Tobacco Quitline. For additional information on the program, visit www.kdheks.gov/tobacco.