Tobacco Quitline Partners with Safeway

Hawai’i residents struggling to quit their tobacco habit now have an extra resource, according to Hawai’i State Department of Health officials.

The DOH’s Tobacco Quitline recently entered into a partnership with the ten Safeway pharmacies in the state, including locations in Hilo and Kailua-Kona. Safeway locations will now provide Quitline materials and referrals to their patients in hopes that Hawai’i residents will be encouraged to enroll in Quitline services.

According to the DOH, research shows that smokers using the Quitline are more likely to kick their habit for good, almost 14 times more likely than those who quit on their own.

“We are very pleased to partner with Safeway pharmacies. Safeway is providing our communities with the resources they need to live healthier, more productive lives. This is an important step of connecting smokers to these resources to quit, contributing to a smoke-free Hawaii. We hope other retailers follow suit,” said Lola H. Irvin, manager of the Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Division of the Hawaii Department of Health.

Almost 1,400 adults over the age of 35 die every year from smoking-caused diseases and illness in Hawai’i, according to officials. Aside from the effect on the individual smoker, the ripples effect everyone. DOH officials say that partnerships like the one with Safeway and the Quitline provide more information and tools to quit at the hands of smokers.

The Quitline provides individuals with a free personalized plan to stop the use of tobacco, a free personalized quit plan, free nicotine replacement patches or gum, and access to interactive tracking tools and educational materials

To learn more about the Hawai’i Tobacco Quitline, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or visit the Hawai’i Tobacco Quitline website.