Minnesota State University Reporter

While community leaders debated whether or not to impose a smoking ban at area pubs Monday night, one statewide group continued its fight against the use of cigarettes and tobacco. The Minnesota Partnership for Action Against Tobacco (MPAAT) is a nonprofit organization whose mission statement reads, "To reduce the harm that tobacco causes to the people of Minnesota."

Created in 1998 and funded through three percent of a settlement reached with tobacco companies and Minnesota during that year, the organization seeks to combat the harm caused directly to smokers by cigarettes and inhalers of secondhand smoke.

MPAAT runs several programs in helping smokers quit their habits. One of these intervention programs, known as QUITPLAN, was created as an option for smokers who did not want to use the face-to-face option of counseling while quitting. The plan, available through a public Web site, QUITPLAN.com, and a public help line where individuals can call for help from trained counselors to create a personalized plan to quit smoking is an initiative of the MPAAT intervention program. Counselors are even able to work one-on-one with quitters and provide any support they might need during cravings.

The QUITPLAN program is an important resource at Minnesota State's Student Health Services office for students trying to stop smoking. The QUITPLAN program sends out information to universities that can be used to help prospective smokers quit.

"Because MPAAT is geared more toward working adults and not college students, we use them more as a resource when counseling students during their quest to quit," said Wendy Schuh, alcohol and drug coordinator of Student Health Services. QUITPLAN resources and materials are used as a part of the Student Health Services strategy in their weekly smoking cessation meetings at 4 p.m. Tuesdays in Carkoski Commons 100.

"We are involved with local community and organizations and county governments in implementing smoking cessation programs and eliminating secondhand smoke from the public," said Mark Mahoon, a public relations adviser with MPAAT.

A new advertising campaign has been launched by MPAAT, known as "Fresh Air." The ad campaign is meant to inform the public about new smoke-free laws in Minnesota and newer ones that will go into effect at the end of March in Hennepin, Ramsey, Minneapolis, Golden Valley and Bloomington counties and to educate the public about its rights regarding the absence of smoking in certain public venues such as restaurants and cafes.

"A lot of times, people do not know about smoking laws and are subject to the dangers of secondhand smoke," Mahoon said.

With QUITPLAN, prospective quitters can receive self-evaluations of their overall lifestyle and network with other quitters to discuss the obstacles one can face while trying to quit. Experts are available to respond to user questions within 24 hours.

Its public help line has been used by more than 25,000 since it began in 2001 and caters to callers by creating personalized plans to help them quit. Callers can obtain nicotine patches if necessary. The service is also available to the speech and hearing impaired and Spanish and Vietnamese speakers and can be accessed in English at (888) 354-7526

MPAAT also plans to extend its services throughout Southern Minnesota through universities and medical centers.

Claude Godfrey is a Reporter staff writer

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