Problem/Objective: As summarized in the NCI Monograph: Population Based Smoking Cessation (2000), more tobacco users attempt to quit following the passage of smoke-free policies. An increase in smoke-free laws is driving a growing need for easy access to effective cessation treatments for tobacco users who want to quit. As more states are poised to pass tobacco-control legislation, telephone-based cessation counseling (quitlines) offers a unique and cost-effective opportunity to provide cessation support to a broad and diverse population of tobacco users. Furthermore, the Public Health Service Clinical Practice Guideline (2000) recommends quitlines due to the evidence showing increased success rates over quitting cold turkey.

Methods: The presentation will provide an overview of quitlines and the North American Quitline Consortium's (NAQC) State Policy Change project which is working to maximize the cessation benefit from statewide policy changes. The project, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, promotes the availability of quitline services following successful passage of smoke-free laws. NAQC is a 501c3, non-profit organization focused on uniting quitline stakeholders in the U.S. and Canada to improve access to and the quality of quitline services.

Results: The presentation will include information about how advocates and quitlines worked together to pass policies and prepare for implementation in Nevada and Colorado. Highlights will include: promotions strategies (e.g. paid and earned media, educational materials and web sites); impact on quitline operations; call volumes; caller demographics; challenges; and lessons learned.

Conclusions: State tobacco control advocates and cessation programs can work effectively to promote the availability of quitline services and to reduce smoking prevalence when smoke-free policies are passed in a state.