Big Sky Times

The Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) has reported that the Montana Tobacco Quit Line has served over 115,000 Montanans since its inception in May 2004. Out of these, more than 36,000 individuals have successfully quit using tobacco and nicotine products.

In honor of its 20th anniversary, the Quit Line is undergoing a rebranding process with a new logo and name: Quit Now Montana. The program continues to offer free quit coaching over the phone and has expanded its services to include online chat coaching. Text messaging support is also available for those under 25 years old.

Quit Now Montana continues to provide free nicotine replacement therapy (patches, gum or lozenges) and other FDA-approved quit medications. The staff stays informed about emerging tobacco products that are addicting new generations of Montanans. They assist clients in quitting all forms of commercial tobacco use, including newer products such as e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches.

While cigarette smoking among Montana adults has decreased from 20 percent in 2004 to 15 percent in 2022, tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death. Each year, cigarette smoking claims the lives of approximately 1,600 Montanans.

Currently, an estimated 128,000 adults and 18,000 youth in Montana use tobacco. Furthermore, the use of tobacco products disproportionately affects vulnerable populations including youth, Medicaid recipients, American Indian adults, pregnant women, and those with behavioral health conditions.

Quit Now Montana offers specialized services for these groups: My Life, My Quit for ages under 18; an incentivized Pregnancy Program; the American Indian Commercial Tobacco Quit Program; and a Behavioral Health Program.

“There is no safe level of exposure to commercial tobacco products,” said Nicole Aune, DPHHS Section Supervisor of the Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Section. “These products contain known harmful toxins which can lead to health complications and diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, lung diseases, cancers, and stroke. These products are also known to be incredibly addicting and quitting commercial tobacco products can be a challenge without support.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 70 percent of people who smoke report wanting to quit, while 50 percent attempt to quit each year. Approximately 4 percent of people who try to quit on their own succeed compared to 34 percent of people who successfully quit by accessing coaching and quit medications through Quit Now Montana.

Aune encourages Montanans to utilize these valuable services. For more information or assistance, call 1-800-QUIT NOW or visit www.QuitNowMontana.com.