A Statewide Contest Encourages Hoosiers to Kick Their Smoking Habit

August 5, 2010 - Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation (ITPC) has collaborated with INShape Indiana and the Indiana State Department of Health to develop the Quit Now Indiana Contest. This contest is designed for any Indiana resident, eighteen years or older, who regularly smokes. Participants are encouraged to quit smoking for thirty days, from September 1st to September 30th. Those who successfully abstain from smoking for the thirty days will have the chance of winning one of three prizes: $2,500, $1,500, and $1,000 courtesy of AmeriHealth Mercy of Indiana. However, the real prize is “winning better health,” as the Quit Now Indiana Contest explains.

The contest has also been reaching out to employers and encouraging them to get their employees involved. Karla Sneegas, executive director of the ITPC explains, “We need our worksites in Indiana to be tobacco free … adults spend the majority of their day on the job and we want to encourage employers to make the easy choice and create a healthier environment for everyone… Employers have a fantastic opportunity to capitalize on the momentum that we are building through Quit Now Indiana activities like this year’s contest.” As such, Indiana employers are being encouraged to become a Preferred Employer with the Indiana Tobacco Quitline.

According to the CDC’s Tobacco Control State Highlights 2010, 26.0% of the adult population in Indiana currently smokes whereas the national median for smoking prevalence is 18.4%. The CDC ranked Indiana 50th in terms of smoking prevalence (with 1 being the best and 51st being the worst ranking). For this reason, the contest was designed to encourage Hoosiers to stop smoking and raise community awareness about the benefits of smoking cessation.

For more information please visit: http://www.in.gov/inshape/2381.htm

National Working Group for ACTTION

Partnership for Prevention

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