MINNEAPOLIS — For the hundreds of thousands of smokers across Minnesota, the state health department is stepping in and switching things up to help break old habits and ultimately save lives.
Across the state, nearly 600,000 people smoke cigarettes, vape and chew tobacco.
"ClearWay Minnesota ran a statewide quit line for us for the last 10 years but they’re sunsetting so the legislature authorized the Minnesota Department of Health to launch this new program," said Laura Oliven, the state's Tobacco Control Program Manager.
It's called Quit Partner and since the program's launch last week, leaders say more than 500 people have registered to quit.
Enrollees get one-on-one coaching, and what makes the program unique is you never have to leave your house.
"We’ll mail you medications called NRTs, nicotine replacement therapies, with gum packs and a lozenge with instructions on how to use that, and we can provide texting and email services, so a live chat when you need it," said Oliven.
It's no secret these are trying times we’re living in for so many and for some tobacco is used as a coping mechanism.
"This is a time where people are feeling anxious, and depression," said Oliven.
Even so, Oliven says it seems there’s been renewed interest in preserving lung health amid the COVID-19 pandemic as the CDC says people who smoke are at higher risk for severe illness if infected with the virus.
"We don’t want people to be afraid but we want them to know that there are resources available to help them," said Oliven.
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