The Hawaii Tobacco Quitline Launches New Campaign For New Year's

HONOLULU, Dec. 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hawaii Tobacco Quitline is gearing up with a new campaign to help residents of Hawaii quit smoking for good as part of their New Year's Resolutions. Every New Year's Eve, thousands of people across Hawaii promise to better themselves in the coming year, vowing to give up bad habits in exchange for a healthier lifestyle. For many, this has traditionally been a time to think about their smoking habit, but new smoking bans may encourage people to quit sooner rather than later.

The Hawaii Tobacco Quitline's new advertising campaign features real former smokers who have used the Hawaii Tobacco Quitline successfully.  In the new campaign, former smokers from across the Hawaiian Islands talk about their experience with quitting smoking, the Quitline, or how tobacco has affected their life. The new comprehensive advertising campaign includes a media mix of television, radio, social media, and bus advertisements   A new website, www.hawaiiquitline.org, has been launched to promote the new messaging and the Quitline's new online coaching program.

"This is absolutely a big time of year for us," said Pedro Haro, Spokesperson for the Hawaii Tobacco Quitline. "People are well aware of the negative effects of tobacco use, which is why quitting is always such a popular New Year's Resolution. It's a great time to set your quit date.  Our goal is to let smokers throughout Hawaii know that we're here for them, ready to help."

With the inclusion of their new online coaching program, the Hawaii Tobacco Quitline is providing residents of Hawaii wanting to quit smoking with two completely FREE ways to quit—by phone or online at www.hawaiiquitline.org. On the website, there is access to an online quit coach, FREE nicotine patches or gum, and help through their Text2Quit™ program—the same opportunities as going through the phone program at 1-800-QUIT-NOW.  Both programs are 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and are 100% confidential and totally FREE to all residents of Hawaii, regardless of insurance.

As of January 1st, 2014, smokers can no longer light-up on any Honolulu City and County parks & beaches. Hawaii County has banned smoking from its beaches and parks since 2008, and the University of Hawaii at Manoa has announced a ban on smoking and Electronic Cigarettes from its entire campus.

Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. To be one of the 50 million Americans who have successfully quit smoking, call the Hawaii Tobacco Quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW, or visit www.hawaiiquitline.org. 

About the Hawaii Tobacco Quitline and the Hawaii Tobacco Prevention and Control Trust Fund 
The Hawaii Tobacco Quitline is funded by the Hawaii Tobacco Prevention and Control Trust Fund. The trust fund's dollars represent a portion of Hawaii's Master Settlement Agreement payments resulting from a joint lawsuit against the four biggest U.S. tobacco companies to recover healthcare costs for treatment of tobacco-related illnesses paid for by taxpayers, the Hawaii Tobacco Prevention and Control Trust Fund provides resources for community organizations to create and maintain a Hawaii that is free from tobacco use, addiction and exposure to secondhand smoke.

MEDIA CONTACT: 
Melinda Mullis or Marsha Hansen 
(808)792-3077 
[email protected] 
[email protected]

SOURCE The Hawaii Tobacco Quitline