DoD boosts quit tobacco efforts for 2010
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is delivering new focused content, as well as innovative tools and updated information, to help military men and women make 2010 the year they become tobacco free.
The DoD-sponsored campaign, Quit Tobacco-Make Everyone Proud, at www.ucanquit2.org, is supporting military personnel in their efforts to ditch the addiction and leave tobacco behind – once and for all – as they begin the new decade.
Quitting tobacco tops the list of typical New Year’s resolutions, but it is also a pledge that’s difficult to keep – on average it takes tobacco users 11 quit attempts to succeed. New monthly themed content and mobile access are combining with existing information and interactive tools on the Web site to help military personnel make good on their 2010 New Year’s resolutions.
As part of the year-long effort, the Web site will focus on a new theme each month to further engage service members and help them stay on track with their tobacco cessations goals throughout the year. Each month will bring relevant advice, strategies and support for staying quit in 2010.
The site has also launched a new text message service, called QuitTips, that sends content from the Web site directly to mobile phones. It offers helpful advice to support tobacco cessation, as well as links to online tools and updates on smoking and health. Users sign up to receive three texts per week at www.ucanquit2.org⁄quittips⁄ or by texting “UCAN“ to 35350 (subscription is free; standard text messaging rates from wireless carriers may apply).
On the site, military personnel can customize the support they receive by registering at My Quit Space, creating a private blog as a journal of their experiences, developing a personalized Quit Plan to map out a strategy and identify triggers, downloading a Quit Calendar to track progress recording milestones, and adding up how much money they’ll save using the Quitting Calculator. They can also make their blog public to share with family and friends.
Other features include podcasts, research articles, information on local cessation programs and anonymous live chatting with trained tobacco cessation coaches.
Taking advantage of the Web site can increase military personnel’s chances of becoming tobacco free at New Year’s and all year long.
Service members can start by publicly posting resolutions to quit on the electronic bulletin board at www.ucanquit2.org⁄facts⁄newyears⁄bulletin.aspx.
Studies show that people who quit tobacco with friends are 36 percent more likely to remain quit. The online tools and social networking capabilities can provide the support needed to turn a New Year’s pledge into an accomplished resolution and a tobacco-free life.
