Illinois Governor proposes cuts to smoking cessation programs.

[nicnik]

Illinois Governor Rauner is taking heat for his proposal to cut anti-smoking funds, including the telephone help line. My thinking is that if they insist on dishonestly discouraging vaping, they need to start behaving a lot better before getting any more money.

This could possibly develop into a public dialogue in need of some vaping truth.

https://www.google.com/#q=Illinois+rauner+cuts+smoking+cessation

 

[choochoogranny]

I don't understand why all the fuss. "Smoking is bad for you" has been out there for decades on TV, radio, in schools. There are ads on TV for those who don't read for stop smoking aids. Why is there a need for this hot line? $26 million for 27 people cut? That's a lot of overhead.

 

[pennysmalls]

I wonder if those programs worked anyway? I never tried one.

 

[Mattk]

I have no problem with this cut. Does anyone know anyone who actually ever called a hot line to quit smoking. Money can be used elsewhere. Problem is they'll just waste it elsewhere.

 

[nomore stinkies]

Rauner is pretty tough and I agree with him on his decision to close it down. I have never, ever called a hotline to quit. What will they say? Stop smoking, use the patch tec. How many times have we heard that story? So be gone with it. We have a pension deficit that is in the billions and roads that will swallow your SUV. Think I will write him a little note. I see no stats that this hotline actually helped. Another useless idea that costs millions. Gee, what gadget IS helping people quit the habit?

OOPs my mistake. An article that I missed said 90K people called the hot line and 43% of them quit. Really. How did they follow up?

 

[Lessifer]

The hotline wasn't $26M, it was one of a package of services cut that totaled $26M, the hotline's annual budget is $3.1 million, and what was cut was the remainder of that budget for the fiscal year totaling $325K.

I'm sure this helpline did help some people quit, I'd question that 43% though, it's 43% of those who agreed to be surveyed 7 months later, and that doesn't tell you if it's 43% of those who actually completed the followup survey or of the total, and it doesn't tell you when they asked the participants if they would be willing to be surveyed. I doubt they are counting all of the people who called, more likely those who completed the 6-8 week program. I'm sure the numbers for quitting with e-cigs would be different if we counted only those who were continuing to use them after 8 weeks.

 

[nicnik]

I don't understand why all the fuss. "Smoking is bad for you" has been out there for decades on TV, radio, in schools. There are ads on TV for those who don't read for stop smoking aids. Why is there a need for this hot line? $26 million for 27 people cut? That's a lot of overhead.

It's about $6 million for the smoking abstinence programs, the rest is other cuts in social services and public health grants.

He's actually suspending the funds, not proposing legislation. I'd misunderstood that part. So I guess that means he doesn't need the state legislators for this.

 

[nicnik]

I've screwed up trying to save the info where I'd read about it. If you have a good url, I hope you can post it.
Your comments on their stats are very interesting. Thanks for posting this, Lessifer.

 

[Hitmetwice]

Rauner is pretty tough and I agree with him on his decision to close it down. I have never, ever called a hotline to quit. What will they say? Stop smoking, use the patch tec. How many times have we heard that story? So be gone with it. We have a pension deficit that is in the billions and roads that will swallow your SUV. Think I will write him a little note. I see no stats that this hotline actually helped. Another useless idea that costs millions. Gee, what gadget IS helping people quit the habit?

OOPs my mistake. An article that I missed said 90K people called the hot line and 43% of them quit. Really. How did they follow up?[/QUOTE]

Read the Obituaries.

 

[Lisa Belle]

First, ......... is made somewhat legal. Then tobacco cigarettes and smokers (vapers) replace the drug criminals. They really have it in for some people!FBI — Ten Chicago-Area People Indicted on Charges of Trafficking Contraband Cigarettes

Illinois Governor Rauner is taking heat for his proposal to cut anti-smoking funds, including the telephone help line. My thinking is that if they insist on dishonestly discouraging vaping, they need to start behaving a lot better before getting any more money.

This could possibly develop into a public dialogue in need of some vaping truth.

https://www.google.com/#q=Illinois+rauner+cuts+smoking+cessation

 

[Lisa Belle]

First, ......... the green herb is made somewhat legal.

 

[Lessifer]

I've screwed up trying to save the info where I'd read about it. If you have a good url, I hope you can post it.
Your comments on their stats are very interesting. Thanks for posting this, Lessifer.

I read it on page 2&3 of the first link that pops up in your search the sj-r one. Just pointing out that the media and public health people are blowing this a little out of proportion, as per usual. If they truly had a 43% success rate(meaning out of all callers) I'm sure there would be a lot more push back when it came to suspending their funding.

 

[choochoogranny]

Well, when the Stop Smoking program was first started in TN. I called its hot line. What I was offered was some printed pamphlets. Now they could have improved over the years. Think I'll check it out to see.........What are these programs suppose to offer anyways?

 

[Lessifer]

Well, when the Stop Smoking program was first started in TN. I called its hot line. What I was offered was some printed pamphlets. Now they could have improved over the years. Think I'll check it out to see.........What are these programs suppose to offer anyways?

I don't know about all of them, but from the article this one offered a weekly "support" call with an RN or PA for 6 or 8 weeks. They also provided patches/gum to people who couldn't afford them. Not sure what else. It actually sounds like a pretty good program, better than 1-800-NO-MORE-BUTTS or whatever it was that I called 5 years ago, they too only offered to send me material and suggested I speak to my PCP.

 

[nomore stinkies]

Illinois Governor Rauner is taking heat for his proposal to cut anti-smoking funds, including the telephone help line. My thinking is that if they insist on dishonestly discouraging vaping, they need to start behaving a lot better before getting any more money.

This could possibly develop into a public dialogue in need of some vaping truth.

Google

I send Dick Durbin tons of articles but the only thing he reads is the denomination of money to try to make up for his ineptness as a true leader in reform. It's easier for him to tax rather than come up with any financial creativity.
I read with interest that Illinois and a few other states financially contribute only 10% of their MSA money to the smoking cessation campaign per the MSA agreement. Far lower that the CDC recommendation. They use some of this money to pay off debt (I'm surprised they have ANY left). Once again money trumps health. Dick Durbin is going to get his money any ruthless indiscriminate way he can. He has been in the legislation so long he has no new perspective or fresh ideas (like budget CUTS) to cure the financial ills of Illinoisans. I want Bruce Rauner to succeed. But the yesterdays are in his way.

 

[nicnik]

I send **** Durbin tons of articles but the only thing he reads is the denomination of money to try to make up for his ineptness as a true leader in reform. It's easier for him to tax rather than come up with any financial creativity.
I read with interest that Illinois and a few other states financially contribute only 10% of their MSA money to the smoking cessation campaign per the MSA agreement. Far lower that the CDC recommendation. They use some of this money to pay off debt (I'm surprised they have ANY left). Once again money trumps health. **** Durbin is going to get his money any ruthless indiscriminate way he can. He has been in the legislation so long he has no new perspective or fresh ideas (like budget CUTS) to cure the financial ills of Illinoisans. I want Bruce Rauner to succeed. But the yesterdays are in his way.

*ick Durbin is a US Senator, he is not part of the Illinois State Senate (although, it's not like he doesn't have any influence in state politics).

Anyway, I consider his voting record in the senate overall to be better than most, so we're gonna disagree on some things about him. But he is one of the most passive-aggressive legislators, which is saying a lot, since it's so common among them. Much of what we hear from both sides when they argue with each other is exactly that type nastiness in attempted disguise.

He's a natural for the anti-THR movement that claims to be trying to help the children and public health, and even us, while in fact bullying us and endagering public health.

It's too bad his nickname gets censored out here when we post it (collateral damage of what is I guess is a well-meaning policy here), because it's that nickname that the public mostly knows him by.

I'll see if this is working as a compromise - *ick Durbin

Yup. It works.

 

[nicnik]

Rauner reverses immediate cuts to Autism Program, Tobacco Quitline, other social services

Rauner reverses immediate cuts to Autism Program, Tobacco Quitline, other social services - News - The State Journal-Register - Springfield, IL

"The move comes after the General Assembly's bipartisan Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability determined that revenues for the current budget year appear to be coming in $300 million to $500 million higher than earlier estimated."