Alaska expands free quit support to iqmik, nicotine pouches

Alaska's Tobacco Quit Line now provides free coaching and nicotine replacement therapy for users of iqmik and nicotine pouches, as well as traditional tobacco products. The Alaska Department of Health sent the reminder to healthcare providers on May 26, 2026, ahead of World No Tobacco Day on May 31.

The Quit Line has operated for over 20 years. It has adapted to help Alaskans quit smoking, chewing tobacco, vaping, and e-cigarettes as new products have emerged.

The service offers free quit coaching and nicotine replacement therapy for all Alaska adults. Services include telephone, web, and text-based counseling available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Enrolled participants receive a free starter kit with a two-week supply of nicotine patches, gum, or lozenges.

Healthcare providers can refer patients through three methods. An online referral form is available at the Quit Line website. Providers can also fax referral forms in English or Spanish to 1-800-483-3114. Clinics and hospitals can connect their electronic health records systems directly to the Quit Line by contacting [email protected].

The Alaska Department of Health emphasized the role of healthcare providers in encouraging patients to quit. In Alaska, 65 percent of adults who were advised to quit tobacco or nicotine by a physician or nurse said that advice helped encourage them to stop.

For providers whose workflow does not accommodate formal referral, the department said they can give patients information to self-enroll. Patients can self-enroll by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW or visiting AlaskaQuitLine.com. Patients can also text READY to 34191.

The Alaska Department of Health offers free outreach materials for healthcare providers, including handouts, posters, and digital graphics for waiting rooms. Providers can request materials by emailing [email protected] or downloading them from the Quit Line website.