With each passing year, the evidence of tobacco’s deadly consequences continues to grow – and now, evidence of the health dangers of secondhand smoke is well established. Smokers aren’t just harming their own health, they’re putting everyone around them at risk.

That’s why the Oklahoma County Tobacco Use Prevention Coalition is urging smokers to make New Year’s resolutions for 2012 to “Break Away from the Pack!” not just for themselves, but for their families and those they love.

Tobacco kills more Oklahomans than alcohol, auto accidents, AIDS, suicides, murders and illegal drugs combined. Exposure to secondhand smoke causes heart disease, cancers, sudden infant death syndrome, asthma attacks, bronchitis and pneumonia. “That means if you make a resolution to quit smoking, you’re not just doing something for yourself. You’re taking a step that can help to improve the health of everyone around you,” said True Wallace, Coalition Chair.

The coalition is promoting the “Break Away from the Pack!” in 2012 campaign to encourage tobacco users to make quitting their number one resolution on New Year’s Day – and to stick with that resolution for good. And this year, there’s more help than ever for anyone with a desire to stop smoking or using other tobacco products – and the assistance is free.

The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline is now offering free services online at OKHelpline.com – in addition to telephone assistance at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-7669). The new online service, called Web Coach, offers internet access to skilled Quit Coaches through live chat and e-mail. Those using the service will also gain membership to a private online community where they can complete activities, watch videos, and join in discussions with others in the program. Interactive features on the website can measure the money saved and progress made during the quitting process. Web Coach can be used alone or in conjunction with phone support. Both services are free to Oklahoma residents.

The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline also offers a free two week starter kit of nicotine replacement products. In addition to patches or gum, nicotine lozenges will also be available for most registered participants.

To qualify, all it takes is a simple phone call to 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669, English or 1-800-793-1552, Spanish) or a click of the mouse at OKHelpline.com

If you are a tobacco user, resolve to make 2012 the year that you “Break Away from the Pack!”

For more information on the Oklahoma County Tobacco Use Prevention Coalition or resources to help you or someone you know quit smoking, please call (405) 419-4247.