Quitline Iowa safe, convenient way to quit tobacco

Quitline Iowa is a free service with a team of coaches that is trained to safely guide people in safely quitting tobacco and is available to Henry County residents regardless of their insurance status.

Henry County tobacco prevention coordinator Chris Kempker encourages residents to take advantage of Quitline Iowa.

'If you are uninsured or on Medicare, you may be eligible for free nicotine replacement therapy,” Kempker said.

In Iowa, 17.1 percent of adults smoke and one in four Iowa adults use tobacco in some form. Tobacco is the leading cause of death for Iowans, taking the lives of more than 5,100 adults each year.

Quitline Iowa pairs tobacco users with a Quit Coach to help them develop an individualized quitting plan and determine how to best help them stay tobacco-free. A Quit Coach helps prepare participants for their quit date, provides tips and support to live in a smoke-free environment and offers advice and information on medications that may help with withdrawal symptoms.

Henry County residents can enroll in Quitline Iowa by calling 1-800-QUIT-Now (1-800-784-8669) or visiting www.quitlineiowa.org. Registration specialists and Quit Coaches are available 24 hours a day.