Stop smoking contest extended

TERRE HAUTE, Ind (WTHI) - In the wake of an “overwhelming” response by employers, interested in helping their employees to stop using tobacco, state health officials announced they are extending the entry deadline for smokers to enter the “Quit Now Indiana” stop smoking contest and earn a chance to win a top prize of $2,500.

Originally set to end on August 23rd, Karla Sneegas, executive director, Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation (ITPC) Agency today announced that the deadline for contest entries is being extended to Sept. 30th.

For a chance to win, entrants must be at least 18 years of age, a legal resident of Indiana and a regular user of tobacco. To submit an entry, participants are encouraged to go online at www.quitnowindiana.com or www.INShape.IN.gov .

To qualify for the prize money, a person pledges to quit using tobacco for the entire month of October. From there, if he/she’s name is drawn randomly and the person is determined to have quit using tobacco, he/she wins. Second and third place winners will receive $1,500 and $1,000, respectively.

People interested in signing up can also do so by filling out an entry at the 2010 Indiana State Fair (through Aug. 22) or at any of the remaining concerts at the Lawn at White River State Park in Indianapolis as part of the “1-800-QUIT-NOW” Concert Series.

According to Sneegas, including employers is a new part of this year’s contest, but one that is proving to be popular statewide, as local ITPC-funded coalitions are working with companies to participate in a larger scale effort to make more workplaces smoke-free.

"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,” said Sneegas.

She continued, “Employers are recognizing what a fantastic opportunity they have to help their employees live a healthier life and it’s showing based on the response we’re getting to the contest.”

Data shows that an employer with a workforce of at least 500 people will spend as much as $400,000 annually on costs related to tobacco use by their employees.

Hoosier employers are invited to become a Preferred Employer with the Indiana Tobacco Quitline (1-800-QUIT-NOW), a free quit service offered through ITPC. For more information concerning the Preferred Employer program, contact Camille Kalil at
(317) 519-9763 or visit our website at

www.indianatobaccoquitline.net .