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Earlier this summer, the state’s nicotine prevention and cessation efforts were halted when money the state gets from a settlement with tobacco companies fell millions short of what the Department of Health had projected. Lawmakers overseeing the funds questioned the department about the issue and got a fiscal update Wednesday and said they plan to reintroduce legislation to give nicotine prevention work in New Mexico the stability it needs.
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New Mexicans trying to quit smoking and vaping have had less help recently. The state’s prevention and outreach efforts were cut off in May and the Quitline went down at the end of June after state funding fell short. While 1-800-QUIT-NOW is up and running again, community groups helping some of the people most at risk still aren’t able to help.
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New Mexicans who call 1-800-QUIT-NOW, a program to help people kick nicotine products, are being turned away. Local organizations doing smoking prevention work say the state has also told them to stop their projects.