Quit Smoking to Reduce Your Cancer Risk

Cancers caused by tobacco can be prevented, and the first step may be to seek professionals who can help. The California Smokers' Helpline — a partnership between investigators at the Moores UCSD Cancer Center and the California Department of Health — offers telephone counseling assistance and a range of other free services, such as self-help materials and opportunities to participate in ongoing research projects.

If you're ready to quit, or just thinking about it, call 1-800-NO-BUTTS or visit California Smoker's Helpline.

You can also see a comprehensive list of National Cancer Institute tobacco cessation resources.

About the Smokers' Helpline

The California Smokers' Helpline has helped 430,000 people — an average of 80 people per day — “kick the habit” since it was established by Cancer Center researchers in 1992. It was the first statewide smoking cessation quit line in the nation.

Callers' needs are varied, ranging from educational materials about the impact of smoking to other self-help materials and counseling assistance. All are designed to help someone quit smoking -- and all are provided free.

Facts worth noting:

• The helpline serves callers in 6 languages and has a TTD line for hearing-impaired callers.
• Callers to the Helpline are from all age groups, but the majority (51 percent) are between 25 to 44. This is important because smokers who quit when they're younger are less likely to develop future tobacco-related illnesses.
• Two-thirds of callers have either no health insurance or use Medi-Cal.
• Nearly 70 percent of callers smoke 15 or more cigarettes per day, and are considered heavy smokers.

Based on the success of the California Smokers' Helpline, quit lines have also been established in every state in the U.S., all Canadian provinces, Puerto Rico, most European countries, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil and Taiwan. Many of these have used California as a model.

How the Helpline works

Helpline counselors spend approximately 40 minutes with each caller who requests counseling, assisting with a comprehensive plan for quitting. But because relapse is likely in the first week after the client quits, this is where Helpline counselors really roll up their sleeves and pitch in.

It is the counselor's goal to call each client three times for follow-up counseling during that critical first week. As the probability of relapse decreases, calls are spread out. Counselors call again at two weeks and make a final call at one month.

Relapse prevention follow-up calls last 10-15 minutes. They are designed to help keep clients on track with their plan, to offer support, and to provide a reasonable measure of accountability. Counselors review quit status, withdrawal symptoms, pharmacotherapy issues, and smoking events (if any). They then help clients assess how their plans are working and develop new strategies if needed. Finally, counselors ask about future trigger situations, which are then included in the maintenance plan.

 

If a client relapses, the counselor discusses the specific smoking situation that triggered the relapse, and helps the client plan differently for next time. Many clients will set a new quit date and the process begins anew.

First-time callers to the Helpline have the option of being called back by a counselor or speaking with one immediately. While the Helpline is not really a "hotline," counselors work hard to provide as much on-the-spot service as possible.