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NEW MEXICO LAUNCHES TOBACCO CESSATION INITIATIVE
This year's Annual Session kicked off the start of the ADHA Smoking Cessation Initiative in our
state. Our national and state program titled, "ASK, ADVISE, REFER" is sponsored by a $200,000 grant
from the Smoking Cessation Leadership Center of the Robert Wood Foundation.
Lisa Esparza, RDH, BS is our ADHA liaison for this program. She was available during the
session to answer questions about the ASK, ADVISE, REFER campaign and hand out materials which
will be useful as we counsel patients about tobacco use. This slogan "Ask, Advise, Refer" is a
reminder to all preventive practitioners and patients that in three minutes or less time period,
dental hygienists can make a difference in a patient's choice to quit their tobacco habits.
Patients trust their dental hygienist and this program will help us to motivate and encourage
our patients to be tobacco-free.
If you would like more information about this program, or to schedule a one- hour continuing
education course for your office or study group, please contact Lisa @ lisa@nmdha.org.
A packet of information is also available for our NMDHA members, which includes business cards
to refer patients to a state Quitline number 1-877-44U-QUIT for free counseling, please contact
Lisa @ lisa@nmdha.org.
Remember 3 minutes or less can save a patients' life!
Ask
Advise
Refer
Current statistics show that only 2.5% of patients are able to quit smoking on their own.
As dental hygienists, you are on the front line of smoking cessation intervention. You have the
opportunity to provide your patients with information that could save their lives.
As the authority in dental hygiene, ADHA is bringing you the information to assist you in
promoting smoking cessation to your patients. If smoking cessation increased from 2.5% to
10%, an additional 2.4 million lives would be saved each year.
Today, there are 34 statewide Quitlines in the United States including one nationwide
toll-free number to the National Cancer Institute's Quitline: 1-877-44U-QUIT.
Quitline studies have proven effectiveness in:
Increading awareness of available resources
Helping to overcome barriers to those seeking help
Helping providers with assessing and advising
Increasing the likelihood of a patient quitting and staying quit
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