ALO 171 Smoking Cessation Counseling Line was established on 27 October 2010 to provide support to individuals who want to quit smoking, guide them through the cessation process, and raise public awareness about tobacco addiction. In addition to motivating individuals to attempt quitting, the line offers guidance on how to manage the quitting process, provides advice for coping with withdrawal symptoms, and supplies information about healthcare professionals and units that offer smoking cessation services, facilitating appointment scheduling when necessary.
Scope and Operation of the Service
ALO 171 Smoking Cessation Counseling Line can be reached free of charge from landlines. Calls from mobile phones are charged according to the respective operator's tariff. The service is available 24/7 with live operators. Individuals who want to quit smoking or reduce their dependence can call ALO 171 to receive expert support. Operators provide personalized information on the harms of smoking and apply an assessment scale to determine the level of nicotine dependence.
Based on the evaluation, individuals with low or moderate dependence may receive a personalized smoking cessation plan upon request. Clients with high dependence are informed about healthcare professionals and units that provide smoking cessation services under medical supervision and, if necessary, are referred to smoking cessation clinics. The counseling line also assists in scheduling appointments for clients referred to clinics. Access and detailed information about ALO 171 can be obtained from the official ALO 171 website.【1】
Follow-up and Support Process
Individuals with a cessation plan are regularly monitored through the counseling line for one year. They are contacted at least six times annually: during the first week, and at the first, second, third, sixth, and twelfth months. These calls monitor quitting status, boost motivation, and help ensure the sustainability of the process.
Individuals who apply to smoking cessation clinics under the Tobacco Addiction Treatment Monitoring System (TUBATİS) are also followed via ALO 171. They are contacted six times a year to evaluate the effectiveness of clinic services and to provide supportive counseling. Evaluations indicate that approximately 7% of individuals quit smoking with counseling line support, which is three to four times higher than the global average.
Guidance for the Smoking Cessation Process
ALO 171 guides individuals in preparing for the quitting process, which requires physical, mental, and emotional readiness. Individuals write down their reasons for quitting and the benefits they expect, reviewing them regularly. The quit date is predetermined and shared with family and friends to involve the social environment in supporting the process. Quitting together with a partner or friend is encouraged to aid coordination.
On the quit day, all items that remind the individual of smoking are removed from the home and workplace, and situations that may trigger cravings are avoided. Avoiding trigger habits, such as coffee or alcohol, temporarily is recommended. When the urge to smoke arises, individuals focus on the process, considering their decision and the benefits of quitting. Daily habits and environments associated with smoking are reorganized accordingly.
Smoking Cessation (Kırşehir Açık Ceza İnfaz Kurumu)
Health Effects of Quitting Smoking
Within the first 24 hours after quitting smoking, carbon monoxide levels in the blood decrease. Between two weeks and three months, exercise capacity improves, coughing decreases, breathing becomes easier, the senses of taste and smell recover, the immune system begins to strengthen, and yellow stains on teeth and fingers fade. By the end of the first year, the risk of heart attack is reduced by 50%, and the risk of stroke and vascular diseases decreases. By the fifth year, the risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, and bladder is reduced by half. By the tenth year, the risk of stroke equals that of non-smokers, and the risk of cancer continues to decline. By the fifteenth year, the risk of heart attack reaches the same level as individuals who have never smoked.
ALO 171 Smoking Cessation Counseling Line (Kocaeli Kamu Hastaneleri)
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