(Porter County, IN) – In celebration of the American Cancer Society’s Great American

Smokeout on Nov. 20th, Hoosiers across Indiana are encouraged to “make the commitment and

quit smoking today”.

“With the holidays just around the corner, it’s a great time for people to give the ‘gift’ of healthy

living to themselves and to their family and friends by quitting. Due to the tobacco tax increase

effective July 1 st, stretching finances thinner and thinner, now is the perfect time to quit,” said

Carrie Higgins, Program Director of The Tobacco Education and Prevention Coalition for Porter

County.

Tobacco use continues to be the leading cause of early death and disease in the United States

and leads to over 11,000 deaths annually in Indiana. Indiana’s adult smoking rate and use of e-

cigarettes remain higher than the national average. For any smokers in Indiana who want to

quit, including those who vape e-cigarettes or use other forms of nicotine, help is available, and

there’s no better time to quit than now, according to Higgins.

The free Indiana Tobacco Quitline – 1-800-QUIT-NOW – is available seven days a week, 365

days a year, to provide tips and counseling on quitting for any Indiana resident.

“The Quitline is staffed with professional ‘quit’ coaches, who are trained on helping people to

quit using tobacco, as well as free Nicotine Replacement Therapy for many adults. It’s a free

resource and it’s a great first step in treating what we know is a difficult addiction to overcome,”

added Higgins.

Giving up smoking is a journey, and it can be hard, but you can increase your chances of

success with a good plan and support. Success may look different for different people. There

are many ways to quit smoking, and some work better than others. Getting help through

counseling and medications doubles or even triples your chances of quitting successfully.

“It may be surprising to most people that the effects of stopping smoking are almost immediate;

a person’s heart rate and blood pressure drop just 20 minutes after quitting,” explained Higgins.

According to Higgins, quitting smoking is critical to improving one’s life at a time when tobacco

use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the world.

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“Whether you’re trying to quit or even thinking about it, the Great American Smokeout is a great

time to think about living a healthier life. It may be a challenging path, but it will be worthwhile for

a lifetime,” added Higgins.

Free resources are available by calling 1-800-QUITNOW (1-800-784-8669), texting “READY” to

34191, or by visiting QuitNowIndiana.com. Visit the local coalition webpage for additional

information and resources at valpo.edu/tepc.