Smoking Cessation Resources Lacking

For many people, New Year’s resolutions involve quitting smoking.

Michigan spends $3.4 billion every year on health care costs due to smoking, but resources that can help people quit are lacking in the state.

The American Lung Association says those things in its recent 2012 Helping Smokers Quit report.

The Marquette County Health Department says its resources are also lacking.

Health educator Sarah Derwin says the state did not fund any smoking cessation programs at all for the Health Department this year.

But there are still some smoking cessation resources in the U.P., and she suggests speaking with your local health department to learn more about them.

Derwin suggests calling the Michigan Tobacco Quitline, 1-800-QUIT-NOW, or 1-800-784-8669.

The American Lung Association report found that Michigan spends about 73 cents per smoker on the Quitline.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommend that the state spend about 14 times that much.