Wednesday, July 31, 2002

Quit Line extends hours to meet demand

Since its launch in November 2001, more than 12,000 Georgians have called the Quit Line, 1-877-270-STOP, to receive up-to-date information and steps on how to remove tobacco from their lives.

Due to the volume of calls, the free resource is extending its operating hours to ensure that Georgians can take full advantage of the line's trained tobacco use counselors.

The new hours, beginning in July, are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Quit Line will remain closed on Sundays.

"We are pleased with the success of the Quit Line in the past seven months," said Kathleen E. Toomey, M.D., M.P.H., director of the Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Public Health. "By extending the hours of service, we hope to provide a larger window of time for Georgians to call and receive the help and support the Quit Line can provide."

The Quit Line's trained counselors offer a choice of written self-help materials, referral to other resources and counseling geared to the caller's needs. The Quit Line can be translated into 230 languages. Spanish speakers may call 1-877-266-3863.

The Quit Line, funded by the master tobacco settlement agreement, is a component of UNITE Georgia. UNITE Georgia is an initiative of the Tobacco Use Prevention Section (TUPS), DHR Division of Public Health, in partnership with the Georgia Cancer Coalition.

In 1998, Georgia was awarded $4.8 billion as one of 46 states in a landmark settlement against major tobacco companies, receiving the first allocation of $150 million during the 2000 legislative session.

UNITE Georgia, a state-supported and community-driven program, aims to create a better understanding and awareness of tobacco's effect on Georgia.

For additional information, please visit www.unitegeorgia.com.