(AP) -- Michigan's Tobacco Quit Line is up and running again.
The hot line offers callers free nicotine patches, gum or lozenges to help them quit smoking or chewing tobacco.
A heavy volume of calls overwhelmed the hot line in March, causing the state to run out of nicotine replacement products and forcing the hot line to shut down for everyone except Medicaid recipients.
The hot line was not scheduled to reopen until October.
But the Michigan Department of Community Health said Tuesday it reopened the line earlier after funding became available. However, callers won't get nicotine patches or other products.
Instead, a personal coach will help them set a quit date and make a plan to quit. The coach will provide up to five telephone coaching sessions.
(Copyright ©2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
