SmokingisNotOK campaign will inform Oklahomans about the importance of smoking cessation

Posted on: 10/12/16

The Oklahoma Insurance Commission, along with the American Cancer Action Network and the American Lung Association, will partner with numerous local health care providers in Oklahoma to sponsor SmokingisNotOK, a public awareness campaign aimed at informing residents about the importance of quitting smoking.
 
“Smoking is Oklahoma’s leading preventable cause of death, killing more Oklahomans than alcohol, auto accidents, AIDS, suicide, murder and illegal drug use combined,” says John D. Doak, Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner. “Last year, federal agencies clarified a requirement that health insurance companies cover tobacco use counseling and interventions. Coverage of the preventive services is required by the Affordable Care Act. The services are covered with no out-of-pocket costs and no prior authorization.”

According to the state health department, Oklahoma ranks No. 39 in the U.S. for its adult smoking rate, with about 23 percent of adult Oklahomans smoking cigarettes.

“Oklahoma is among 13 states that don’t have comprehensive smoke-free state laws in place,” says Dawn Watson, Oklahoma government relations director, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Inc. “Oklahoma residents can smoke in bars and the state allows restaurants to have separate ventilated smoking rooms so there is still more to be done in making Oklahoma smoke free.”

Oklahoma residents can get involved in Quit Month by using the hashtag #SmokingIsNotOK to share stories about quitting on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

“Our main goal is to educate and inform Oklahoma residents about the resources available to help them quit smoking,” says Jeremy Hughey, executive director, American Lung Association in Oklahoma. “We realize it is no easy feat to give up the addiction to tobacco, but Oklahomans need to know there is help available to them when they’re ready to quit.”

Click here to get more information about Oklahoma Quit Month. There are also helpful tools online at QuittersCircle.com and download the Quitter’s Circle® app* from the App Store or Google Play.

The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline, a project of the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust, is also available at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (784-8669) for access to FREE resources.