Although Arizona has one of the lowest tobacco use rates in the nation, an alarming 800,000 residents are regular tobacco users. This includes cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, pipes and/or chew tobacco.
As with any other addiction, quitting tobacco is a challenging, multifaceted process.
Research has shown that those who are most successful in quitting tobacco utilize evidence based strategies such as medication assistance and behavioral support. Arizonans are able to utilize the Arizona Smokers’ Helpline (ASHLine), which offers both Nicotine Replacement Therapy and Telephonic Health Coaching, at no cost.
Learn more about ASHLine and sign-up or refer someone for ASHLine services.
Medical providers who perform a brief tobacco intervention with their patients and refer them to ASHLine, set their patients up for the highest quitting success rate. The simplest way is following the ASK, ADVISE, REFER process.
- ASK- Asking every patient, at EVERY visit, if they use tobacco
- ADVISE- Advising patients that tobacco use is bad for their health and specifying any health effects that may be due to their current tobacco use
- REFER- referring the patient to ASHLine for medication assistance and/or behavioral support
Our Office of Healthcare Innovation (OHCI) partners with medical practices throughout the county to address tobacco use with their patients. For support or more information, contact Charles Carpenter at (602) 372-8416.
Statistics from: American Academy of Family Physicians. Treating Tobacco Dependence: Ask your patients about tobacco use – Act to help them quit. 2013.
