In the wake of steep increases of taxes on cigarettes and tobacco products in Michigan taking effect on April 1, more people are wanting to kick the tobacco habit. In anticipation of this, state officials began offering smoking cessation products to those wanting to quit on the Michigan Tobacco Quit Hotline.
The hot line began last week to offer callers free nicotine patches, gum or lozenges to help them quit smoking or chewing tobacco. By Monday, the heavy volume of calls had overwhelmed the hot line.
State officials say the hot line will shut down until October because the department has run out of the free products. The new budget year starts Oct. 1.
The quit line was contacted by more than 65,600 callers in five days, and more than 400 staff members were fielding calls.
Nearly 2,200 people have enrolled in the quit tobacco program so far.
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