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With Father’s Day just around the corner, it’s a great time to celebrate the positive impact that fathers can have on their families and communities. And one way to do that is by being a positive role model and making healthy choices, such as quitting smoking.
If you or a loved one is struggling to quit smoking, remember that you’re not alone. The Asian Smokers’ Quitline (ASQ) is here to support tobacco users with free, confidential counseling and resources in Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese. Whether you’re a father or not, taking steps to quit smoking is a great way to improve your health and set a positive example for those around you.
Set a quit date and make quit attempts!
Research has shown that smokers who set a quit date are more likely to make a quit attempt than those without a quit date. According to Dr. Shu-Hong Zhu, Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of California, San Diego, “The more you try to quit smoking, the closer to success, so that you and your family and friends can share health and happiness!”
The ASQ encourages fathers to set a quit date to start the process of quitting, for their own health and wellness and that of their family.
To increase your chance of quitting, consider talking to and getting support from a quit coach. Furthermore, combining smoking cessation coaching and Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT), like the nicotine patches, will increase the chances of quitting smoking for good.
ASQ has been funded by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) since 2012. ASQ provides FREE evidence-based quit smoking services in Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean and Vietnamese] to over 20,000 individuals in the U.S. and eligible tobacco users can receive a free two-week supply of nicotine patches. Studies have shown that smokers who enroll in ASQ services double their chances of quitting successfully.
The counseling service is a one-on-one telephone counseling provided by professional quit coaches who speak either Cantonese/Mandarin, Korean or Vietnamese and assists clients in developing a personal smoking cessation plan. ASQ operates Monday through Friday, 7am to 9pm Pacific Time (10am – Midnight Eastern Time). All the information and conversation are kept confidential.
Texting
Besides calling the ASQ, tobacco users can text one of these in-language key phrases [戒煙/戒烟/금연/Bỏ hút thuốc ] to 66819 to receive either Chinese, Korean or Vietnamese texts each day during the first vital weeks of quitting from the ASQ. The messages are tailored to help at critical points along the way, including practical tips for quitting and for staying quit. You can also text questions and an advisor will respond to your message accordingly.
You can also sign up online and reading materials will be emailed to you after the registration. The quit advisors will also contact you to see if you are eligible for a free two-week supply of nicotine patches after completing the online enrollment with us.
We encourage smokers to set Father’s Day as the day to quit smoking and we welcome anyone to accompany fathers, grandpas, or anyone to call the ASQ to seek the quitting advice from us!
