Alberta
Quitline Profile
Canada
Quitline: AlbertaQuits Helpline
Began Operations: August 2002
Standard Hours of Operation
Monday:
08:00 AM - 08:00 PM
Tuesday:
08:00 AM - 08:00 PM
Wednesday:
08:00 AM - 08:00 PM
Thursday:
08:00 AM - 08:00 PM
Friday:
08:00 AM - 08:00 PM
Saturday:
08:00 AM - 08:00 PM
Sunday:
08:00 AM - 08:00 PM
Closed on:
Telephone Numbers
Line
Phone Number
Language/Subject
1
1-866-710-QUIT(7848)
English
2
1-866-332-2322
English
Supported Languages
Counseling offered in: English.
Third-party counseling: English, Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, French, Russian, 180 languages available.
Deaf/Hard of hearing: 
 
Phone Counseling
Types:
brief intervention
single-session
multi-session (client-initiated)
multi-session (counselor-initiated)
text to cell (two-way)
text to cell (one-way)
text to cell (two-way w/ counselor)
text to cell (two-way automated)
Length of standard first session: 25 min
Length of standard follow-up session: 10 min
Counseling session topics:
tobacco history
developing a quit plan
setting a quit date
withdrawal symptoms
relapse prevention
weight gain
use of cessation medication
stress management
other
Web-Based Services
quitline information
cessation information
self-help tools
automated e-mail messages
interactive counseling
chat rooms
webpages
forums
online courses
social media
AI
mobile app
Cessation Medications
Free Medications
patch
gum
lozenge
nasal spray
inhaler
varenicline
bupropion
combination NRT
Discounted Medications
patch
gum
lozenge
nasal spray
inhaler
varenicline
bupropion
combination NRT
Medication Distribution Methods
voucher
by mail
Other Services
voicemail with callbacks
recorded self-help messages
referral to other health services
mailed info or self-help resources
To receive counseling:
Available free of charge to all Albertans
To receive medication:
Specialized Materials
youth, under 18
youth, 18-25
older tobacco users, 55+
smokeless tobacco users
pregnant tobacco users
multiple addictions
racial/ethnic populations
lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender
chronic health conditions
low socioeconomic status or Medicaid
low literacy
other
mental health disorders including psychiatric conditions
Specialized Protocols
pregnant tobacco users
behavioral health
youth, under 18
Cost-Sharing Partnerships
Medicaid
Medicare
state as employer
large self-insured business
commercial insurer
other
Fax or electronic referral program:  Yes
Person(s) eligible to refer patients:
certified or trained fax referral providers
clinicians or non-clinicians in a healthcare setting
clinicians or non-clinicians in a community-based organization
other
Available referral methods:
faxed form
e-mail or online
EMR with electronic submission
Tobacco users can be referred if they:
are thinking about quitting
indicate a readiness to quit within 30 days
are ready to make a quit attempt
are quit and seek help to stay quit
Referred patients contacted within:  Within 48 hours
Other services available to referring providers:
quitline and/or referral brochures
customized referral/consent forms
patient progress reports
customized provider feedback reports
staff training
quitline/referral program newsletter
Referral program contact:
Cindy Connell
Alberta Health Services AlbertaQuits Helpline
(780) 735-3607
cindy.connell@albertahealthservices.ca
Other information:
AlbertaQuits Fax Number - 1.866.979.3553
Smoke-Free Laws
Workplaces: Yes
Bars: Yes
Restaurants Yes
Tobacco Tax Rates
Current cigarette tax rate: $8.879
Effective date: April 8, 2009
Amount of last increase: $2.272
Quitline Engagement (Source: NAQC Annual Survey - 2012)
Number of direct calls to the quitline: 6,248
Number of tobacco users receiving services: 2,904
Number of tobacco users registering for Web-based services: Not available
Number of tobacco users referred to the quitline: 1,513
Quitline Investment and Impact (Source: NAQC Annual Survey - 2012)
Amount per smoker spent on services and medications: Not available
Amount per smoker spent on media and promotions: Not available
Promotional reach: 0.39 %
Treatment reach: Not available
NAQC standard quit rate: 26.10 %
NOTE: Additional quitline data is available online at www.naquitline.org/data/
Context for quitline metrics:
Presently there are no free or reduced cessation medications offered through Alberta Health Services AlbertaQuits Helpline. Time period for quit rate data collection: The evaluation results include tobacco users who registered Sept 1,2010 - August 31,2011. The evaluation surveys were conducted between April 1st, 2011-March 31st, 2012. Consent rate: not applicable (consent for follow-up not asked at registration). Response rate: 42.3%.
Funder of quitline services: Alberta Health Services
Operator of counseling services: Alberta Health Services
Funding source(s): Provincial government
Electronic Medical Records:
Profile last updated on May 5, 2017