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Click Here 42 °F Forecast | Road Cams Saturday, January 31, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend December 17, 2003 Tobacco Quit Line reopens By BILL KETTLER Mail Tribune Smokers who want to quit can get help on the phone again, though it’s anyone’s guess for how long. Oregon’s Tobacco Quit Line reopened Tuesday after an eight-month hiatus, but the line could go dead again if voters reject the Legislature’s $800 million tax increase on the Feb. 3 ballot. "With a budget deficit that big, everything’s going to be on the table," said Dr. Mel Kohn, state epidemiologist. Last summer, the Legislature appropriated about $5.8 million for the next two years for tobacco cessation programs in its compromise budget — a 71 percent reduction from the $20 million for the two years that ended June 30. The $5.8 million will provide enough money to operate the quit line and fund some grants to counties and school districts for tobacco education programs. Jackson County probably will seek one of the county grants, which would return about $60,000 for local tobacco education, said Jane Stevenson, who worked in the tobacco prevention program until her job lost funding last winter. Advertisement The quit line will be the most visible feature of the tobacco program for most people. Smokers who dial a toll-free number can talk to a trained counselor about their tobacco-use habits and their previous efforts to quit. Counselors help the smokers develop their own personal plan for quitting, said Nancy Clarke, who supervises the quit line. Clarke said many of the counselors are former smokers themselves and have years of counseling experience. "All of them have talked to thousands of smokers." Kohn said the quit line has paid big dividends for Oregon since it began in 1998. Public-health officials estimate it has helped 75,000 adults quit smoking, reduced the number of young smokers by 25,000, and cut by 60,000 the number of adults who use smokeless tobacco. Continuing to help people stop smoking will pay big dividends in reduced spending on medical care, Kohn said. "It’s saving the Oregon Health Plan $20 million this biennium in acute health care costs." Despite the success of tobacco-cessation programs, tobacco use costs Oregon more than $1.8 billion in lost work time, medical costs and premature deaths. Oregon Tobacco Quit Line: 877-270-7867 In Spanish: 877-266-3863 Reach reporter Bill Kettler at 776-4492, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times