UC San Diego

The California Smokers' Helpline, in operation since 1992, offers all state residents free tobacco cessation services, including counseling, self-help quit kits, and cessation-related information. Services are provided in six spoken languages plus a line for the hearing-impaired. The program is promoted statewide by media campaigns, health care providers, local tobacco control programs, and the public school system. The Helpline is centrally operated through the University of California, San Diego and provides services statewide via telephone. Between 1992 and 2000, over 100,000 callers used the Helpline, which has become the chief cessation resource for California's Comprehensive Tobacco Control Program. Media was the most important referral source for Helpline callers (50%), followed by health care providers (20%). About one third of callers were ethnic minorities and 17% were 24 years old or younger. Compared to California smokers in general, callers were more dependent on nicotine and more likely to live with other smokers, but they were also more likely to have tried to quit recently and more ready to try again. Two randomized trials have demonstrated the efficacy of the Helpline counseling protocol. The California experience makes it clear that a centralized Helpline operation can be an accessible and effective service for tobacco users and should be included in any large-scale, comprehensive tobacco control program.