Statewide Education and Outreach Program

One distinguishing element of the University of Wisconsin Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention is its Education and Outreach Program, which was established in 2001. The Outreach Program brings evidence-based tobacco treatment to every corner of the state and partners with organizations to establish changes that promote cessation among people who use tobacco.

Since the launch of the UW-CTRI Outreach Program in 2001 as part of a comprehensive, statewide tobacco control program, UW-CTRI outreach specialists have worked with virtually every healthcare system and insurer—as well as hundreds of clinics and dozens of hospitals across Wisconsin and the United States—to ensure people who use tobacco have access to treatment for their tobacco use.

The Outreach Program offers free training and technical assistance to integrate sustainable treatment for tobacco use and dependence. Regional Outreach Specialists work with behavioral health treatment settings, hospitals, clinics, dental practices, pharmacies, and social service organizations to help providers deliver effective tobacco cessation treatment to all clients and patients who use tobacco. It’s all based on research summarized in the U.S. Public Health Service Clinical Practice Guideline: Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence.

The UW-CTRI Outreach Program also manages the Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line, a free service to all Wisconsinites to help address their smoking, vaping, or chewing tobacco. The Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line has helped over 200,000 people quit using tobacco products.

For more information on how clinicians can help patients quit smoking, click here.