Smoke Free Washington

Provide Free Quit Support

The Toll-Free Washington State Tobacco Quit Line

Providing quit support for residents is both free and easy to do.

All state residents are eligible for some level of free quit support by calling the Washington State Tobacco Quit Line (1-800-QUIT-NOW, 1-877-2NO-FUME in Spanish). Calling the quit line can double the chances of quitting successfully.

When someone calls the quit line, they work directly with a quit coach—often a former smoker—to develop a personalized plan to kick the habit. Because every person is different, quit coaches work with individuals to develop a strategy that addresses their unique triggers and barriers. After speaking with a coach, callers can also receive a free quit kit in the mail. More than 125,000 people have called for help since the quit line began in 2000.

There are a number of ways you can help connect your residents with free quit support:

Going smoke-free encourages quit attempts

Recent research shows that smoke-free policies may help residents quit smoking altogether.

When Guardian Management surveyed residents at 17 of its federally-subsidized rental communities in the Portland-Metro area regarding their no smoking policy, they found that nearly three-quarters of all residents were very or somewhat happy with the no-smoking policy. The percentage of non-smokers who reported never being exposed to secondhand smoke in their apartments increased about 75 percent, and the percentage of non-smokers who reported never being exposed to secondhand smoke on porches, patios or balconies more than doubled.

Among people who smoked, 43 percent reported smoking less tobacco since the policy’s implementation. Nearly half of respondents who smoke reported making an attempt to stop smoking since the policy was enacted, and two-thirds of those cited the policy as part of, or the main reason, for their quit attempt.