North Dakota Ranked Second Most "Quit-Friendly" State
(December 7, 2011)—
When it comes to helping smokers quit, not all states are created equal. According to a new report by the American Lung Association, Maine and North Dakota are the two most quit-friendly states for smokers who want to stop smoking. Georgia and Louisiana are the two least quit-friendly states.
The American Lung Association’s annual “Helping Smokers Quit: Tobacco Cessation Coverage 2011” report documents the coverage of programs and treatments to help smokers quit available in each state and from the federal government.
Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, responsible for 443,000 deaths each year from tobacco-related illnesses and secondhand smoke exposure. Tobacco also places a crippling burden on the U.S. economy, totaling $193 billion annually. Providing comprehensive quit-smoking treatments is a win-win that both saves lives and curbs health care costs.
North Dakota is the second most quit-friendly state in the country because of its comprehensive approach to tobacco cessation. Leading by example, the North Dakota state government provides a comprehensive tobacco cessation benefit to its state employees and their family members – ensuring that everyone has access to the help they need to quit smoking. In addition, during fiscal year 2012, the North Dakota quitline is funded at a rate of $11.86 per smoker, which is above the national minimum standard of $10.53 that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends to reach an adequate number of smokers in every state. North Dakota covers all recommended medications for smokers on Medicaid who want to quit, but does not cover counseling. Evidence shows that tobacco cessation counseling, combined with medication, increases the likelihood of success.
Take Action
Visit our “Helping Smokers Quit” report webpage to find tools and resources to help you, or someone you know quit smoking.
- Find details about what resources are available in North Dakota
- Send an email thanking North Dakota policymakers for helping smokers to quit
- Send an e-card of encouragement to someone you know who wants to quit
- Download web banners and email signatures to help spread the word about helping smokers quit
You can also join our Lung Action Network to receive e-alerts on how you can take action to support better quit-smoking coverage or smokefree laws federally, and in North Dakota.
Interested in keeping up with all the American Lung Association does to fight for healthy air and healthy lungs? Sign up here to receive our monthly e-newsletter Fighting For Air Online, and other e-news.
