MINNEAPOLIS, December 11, 2007 - During debate about Minnesota’s smoke-free law, Physicians frequently testified that a restaurant smoking ban would have a sidebenefit of helping smokers quit, and now those predictions are coming true.

Since the ban went into effect October 1, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, Medica and ClearWay Minnesota have seen increased numbers of smokers using quit lines and seeking treatment, according to the Star Tribune.

In a between September and October, Blue Cross's enrollment in its counseling hotline jumped 43 percent to 525 smokers and the number of nicotine products it provided tripled to a total of 10,000 claims, according to the Star Tribune.

Medica saw a 40 percent increase in the number of smokers seeking counseling. And ClearWay Minnesota, an anti-tobacco organization, saw an influx of smokers to its QuitPlan Services, which are free smoking cessation programs, according to a ClearWay press release.

During the first week of October, ClearWay Minnesota’s online cessation program quitplan.com saw a 93 percent increase in registrants compared to the same week in 2006. In addition, several QuitPlan Centers saw increases in participants during the month of October. QuitPlan Centers in the Willmar area saw a 42 percent increase in October versus the same period in 2006. QuitPlan Centers located in the Thief River Falls area doubled their participants in October compared to last year.

Even though much of the Twin Cities Metro Area has been smoke-free since March 2005, two QuitPlan Centers in Minneapolis also saw a 24 percent increase in participants in October and November combined.

Minneapolis resident Brian Bostrom quit smoking with help from the QuitPlan helpline, according to a ClearWay news release.
 
“I wasn’t going to be able to smoke in the break room at the factory where I work after October 1 anyway,” said Bostrom. “The statewide ban provided a nice motivation to stay quit by removing the temptation to smoke. Now, when I go out to a restaurant, I don’t have to worry about finding one with a smoking section.”

“We’re certainly thrilled that more Minnesotans are taking advantage of QuitPlan Services for free help to quit smoking,” said David Willoughby, ClearWay Minnesota’s chief executive officer. “Whether it is due to the statewide smoke-free law or just a desire to become healthier and tobacco-free, the numbers for our QuitPlan Services show an encouraging trend.”

Studies have shown that using a professional program greatly increases a smoker’s chance of successfully quitting, and independent evaluations have found the comprehensive QuitPlan programs to be especially effective. The average success rate for cold turkey quit attempts is 5 percent; Minnesota smokers who have received phone or in-person counseling through QuitPlan Services have successfully quit at rates of 33 percent or better, according to ClearWay.

QuitPlan Services for Minnesotans include:
The QuitPlan Helpline – 888/354-PLAN (7526), offers telephone counseling and free nicotine patches, lozenges or gum to eligible callers. 

QuitPlan.com – The website offers free lifetime membership, helpful quitting tools and activities and the chance to connect online with thousands of others who have chosen to quit tobacco.

QuitPlan Centers –provide in-person counseling in a healthcare setting, as well as access to nicotine patches, lozenges or gum.

Community-Tailored QuitPlan Centers – A combination of stop-smoking tools and culturally-tailored counseling for communities of color.

QuitPlan at Work –offers free on-site professional group counseling for eligible businesses with at least eight employees ready to stop smoking.