Through with Chew week hits county

SANDERS COUNTY - New products from the tobacco industry threaten Montana with nicotine addiction and lives cut short by fatal illnesses, according to organizers of a weeklong campaign slated to begin Sunday, Feb. 16.

“Through With Chew and All That’s New,” Feb. 16-22, is designed to raise awareness about the variety of dangerous nicotine-containing products the tobacco industry is marketing, particularly to young people. The statewide campaign is sponsored by the Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program (MTUPP) and Sanders County Tobacco Use Prevention Program.

Latest tobacco industry innovations include tobacco dispensed in oral pouches and dissolvable tobacco, both of which could be used by kids without adults knowing it.

“No matter if it’s from one of these new products, e-cigarettes, hookahs or old-fashioned chewing tobacco, nicotine is a highly addictive, dangerous drug,” Sanders County Tobacco Control and Prevention Specialist Jan Parmelee said. “We want parents, teachers, administrators and coaches to become familiar with the new products from the tobacco industry to help protect Montana youth.”

As with cigarettes and chewing tobacco, the illnesses associated with these tobacco products range from oral cancer, which is fatal in roughly one third of cases, to cardiovascular disease and other deliberating illnesses.

“Despite what tobacco industry marketing may lead anyone to believe, these tobacco products are not a safe alternative to traditional smoking or chewing,” Parmelee added.

During February, callers to the Montana Tobacco Quit Line, a free telephone-based service, can receive eight weeks of free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), either the patch, gum or lozenges, Chantix (a prescription medication to treat nicotine addiction) for a $50.00 monthly co-pay (for those with no health insurance) plus coaching and help developing an individual quit plan. To contact the quit line, dial 1-800-QUIT NOW (1-800-784-8669) or log onto the quitline website at www.QuitNowMontana.com where you will find interactive information including a tobacco cost calculator.

For more information contact Jan Parmelee, Sanders County Tobacco Control and Prevention Specialist at 827-6900 or jparmelee@sanderscounty.mt.gov.