Three Indiana Residents Find Quitting Smoking Pays

Press Release For Immediate Release

Three Indiana residents were randomly chosen as winners of the 2011 Quit Now Indiana Contest. Jeanetta Browne of Indianapolis received $2,500, Estefania Garces of Elkhart received $1,500, and Marcia Chaney of Markleville was awarded $1,000 for staying tobacco-free for 31 days during the month of October. All three women participated in the Quit Now Indiana Contest designed to encourage Hoosiers using tobacco products to make an attempt to quit.

The quit contest is an annual promotion from the Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Commission (TPC) at the Indiana State Department of Health and INShape Indiana as part of the tobacco prevention program for the state. The prizes were donated by MDwise Hoosier Alliance and ADVANTAGE Health Solutions.

“As a physician, I have seen tobacco use slowly destroy the lives of Hoosiers,” said Indiana State Health Commissioner Gregory Larkin, MD. “The Quit Now Indiana Contest provides an incentive for smokers to quit, but the initiative effects change on a much larger scale.   We want Indiana to be a model for other states.”

Today, these winners are receiving cash for quitting, but the biggest rewards they receive will be improved health, as well as the money they will save over time. According to the latest Surgeon General’s Report on smoking (2010), there is biological evidence that suggests each cigarette is doing immediate damage and the sooner the smoker quits the better. It is more important than ever that smokers receive a strong support system to help them quit successfully. Many of the contestants trying to quit used the Quit Now Indiana Facebook page as a place to share their struggles, experiences and to receive quit tips to inspire them to keep going.

“Ending tobacco addiction is difficult and every contestant who made a quit attempt needs to be applauded for their efforts. Sometimes it takes more than one attempt to quit. Keep trying and do not give up. For anyone who is ready to try to quit, I encourage them to call the Indiana Tobacco Quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW, a free service that is staffed by trained quit coaches,” said Assistant Commissioner of Tobacco Prevention and Cessation at the State Health Department, Karla Sneegas.

The huge success of this year’s Quit Now Indiana Contest demonstrates that many smokers want to quit, but they may not know where to get the help needed. More than 4,500 eligible Hoosiers registered and over 150 employers made the commitment to help their employees quit tobacco use, that’s more than ever before.

“As both an employer and an insurer, we recognize there is a tremendous potential cost savings for employers and their employees. That’s one of the reasons we partnered with TPC and signed up as a preferred employer; there are tremendous benefits from having more smoke-free workplaces,” says Susan Overton, MDWise Hoosier Alliance executive.

There are over one million smokers in Indiana and research indicates 80 percent of Hoosier adult smokers have a desire to quit. Hoosier employers are invited to join the Preferred Employer Network, a free program offered through TPC to help Indiana become a tobacco-free state. For more information concerning the Preferred Employer program, contact TPC at (317) 234-1787. For information about Quit Now Indiana, visit QuitNowIndiana.com.