BISMARCK, N.D. – Ditch the dip with help from Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health (BBPH) during “Through with Chew” Week, February 21-27. Smokeless tobacco users are encouraged to make the Great American Spit Out on February 25 their designated quit date. Setting a quit date greatly improves a tobacco user’s chance at success.
BBPH has the tools and resources for smokeless tobacco users who want to quit tobacco. BBPH is educating the community about how smokeless tobacco can cause harm and encourage young people never to start using these products.
In 2019, nearly 12% of North Dakota adult males reported using smokeless tobacco in the last 30 days. Both adult and high school-aged males currently use smokeless tobacco more than six times the females' rate. BBPH recognizes the most effective way to quit tobacco is to make a quit plan. Our office assists those wanting to quit tobacco by providing educational materials and tobacco cessation resources. In addition, the statewide tobacco cessation program, NDQuits, offers free support and coaching through phone and web programs.
“Quitting smokeless tobacco reduces the risk of cancer, heart disease, birth defects, and even death,” said Sue Kahler with BBPH. “Using any tobacco product poses a risk to your health, and ‘Through with Chew’ Week is a great time to take back control of your health.”
Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health has a nationally certified tobacco treatment specialist (NCTTS),Sue Kahler. A NCTTS receives specialized training about tobacco-related health conditions, cessation medications, and behavioral counseling. Through behavioral counseling, Sue helps you develop a quit plan that breaks routines to avoid triggers and prepare for cravings to make your quit attempt more successful. Sue can also recommend cessation medications to reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings. Receiving counseling and using cessation medications more than double your rate of success.
For help with quitting smokeless tobacco, visit https://ndquits.health.nd.gov/ or contact Sue Kahler at 701.355.1597.