Missouri's Tobacco Control Exchange

Missouri Foundation for Health Launches “Become An EX®”

Free Services for Missouri Smokers Who Want to Quit
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE       
Contact: Kathleen Souder 636-328-0221
ksouder@banyancom.com
May 12, 2008

St. Louis, Mo. – The Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH) today announced that it is bringing the innovative, national Become An EX® campaign to Missouri to help combat the state’s high smoking rates. MFH, as a founding member of the National Alliance for Tobacco Cessation, joins leading public health organizations and 13 other states to make this unprecedented public health effort possible. The EX® campaign was developed by the American Legacy Foundation along with health experts at the Mayo Clinic

EX® campaign advertising aims to change the way adult smokers think about the difficult process of quitting and to guide them to valuable resources at BecomeAnEx.org.  MFH decided to enhance the options for Missouri smokers who want to quit by launching a statewide effort also featuring 1.800.Quit.Now, the Missouri Tobacco Quitline. The local campaign launched today will include radio and print advertising, local events, and the distribution of EX® brochures, posters and wallet cards. 
   
“Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in Missouri. Quitting smoking is the single most important thing smokers can do for their health and the health of those who live with them,” said Jane Drummond, director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
“We are pleased the Missouri Foundation for Health is bringing the EX campaign to our state,” Drummond added.  Nearly one-fourth of the state’s adults (23.3 percent) smoke; and about 10,000 Missourians die annually from smoking-related illness.

The Missouri Tobacco Quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW offers free cessations tools and quit coaches who help callers develop personalized quit plans.  The goal of the Missouri EX® campaign is to increase the use of the quitline, which is an excellent support of those wanting to quit.  In advance of the EX campaign launch, MFH gave a $3 million grant to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to support an additional volume of calls expected to be generated by the new advertising. 
   
“Adding the Become An Ex campaign to our already successful Tobacco Cessation and Prevention Initiative programming allows MFH to reach more Missouri smokers and encourages them to re-learn life without cigarettes,” said Kathryn DeForest, Senior Program Officer at MFH.. “The Foundation’s goal is to provide supportive options to the nearly 70 percent smokers in our state who say they want to quit.”
   
The new www.BecomeAnEX.org website and 1.800.Quit.Now provide smokers with information that can help them prepare for a quit attempt, practice overcoming different smoking triggers, learn about addiction and helpful medications, and call on the support of friends and family. Both programs feature action-oriented tools and information to help smokers develop personalized plans that will work for them.    

Established in 2000, the Missouri Foundation for Health (www.mffh.org) is the largest non-governmental funder of community health activities in the state.

EX Campaign Media Advisory

WHAT:  Missouri Foundation for Health launches “Become An EX® Campaign” in cooperation with the National Alliance for Tobacco Cessation and the American Legacy Foundation.

WHEN: Monday, May 12, 2008

WHERE:  Entire state of Missouri.

WHY: The EX® campaign is an unprecedented national public health effort directed at adult smokers who want to quite for themselves and their families. The national campaign began in March, and starting next week the EX® campaign will direct Missouri smokers to either the BecomeAnEx.org website or 1-800-QUIT-NOW, the Missouri Tobacco Quitline. Both free services offer proven tools, expert help, and personalized quit plans.

WHO: The Missouri Foundation for Health is pleased to bring the EX® Campaign to Missouri. The goal is to encourage adult smokers to quit because smoking rates in our state are higher than the national average.

Jane Drummond, director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, supports the Foundation’s efforts. Video and audio of her comments will be available along with a complete press release.  Ms. Drummond and several other statewide spokespersons will be available Monday to field media inquiries. Interviews may be arranged by calling Banyan Communications at 636-328-0221.

BACKGROUND:

The EX® campaign is an unprecedented national public health effort that helps adult smokers “re-learn life without cigarettes.” The percentage of Missouri adults who smoke (23.3 percent) is higher than the national average (20.2 percent). Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in our state.  About 10,000 Missourians die annually from smoking-related illnesses.

Established in 2000, the Missouri Foundation for Health is the largest non-governmental funder of community health activities in the state. The Foundation is a member of the National Alliance for Tobacco Cessation, a collaboration of the nation’s leading public health organizations and 13 states brought together by the American Legacy Foundation.

Become an Ex Community

You've seen the commercials, now you have an opportunity to become part of the Become an EX online community.

The site is set up like a Ning networking site, where individuals can sign on, have their own page, contribute to forums, post blogs and more. This site is a great tool for smokers who don't have time to participate in support groups, or don't have them in their areas. It is also a place where family and friends of smokers can support each other. You can also become a member and share tips and tricks to kick the habit, as well as promoting your tobacco cessation efforts. The great thing about the site? It is incredibly easy to navigate.

Promote the site by placing the Become an Ex badge on your Web site, MySpace, Facebook, blog or other online venues.

 

Visit Become An EX