Quitting isn’t easy

The American Cancer Society’s (ACS) annual Great American Smokeout started last week and we applaud all of you who set Nov. 15 as their quitting date. We encourage those who are thinking about quitting smoking in the near future.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals’ (DHH) Tobacco Control Program encourages all tobacco users in Louisiana to get help so they can successfully quit.

“Tobacco use is the top cause of preventable death in the world, and people who smoke or use other tobacco products are putting themselves at risk for debilitating chronic disease and a shorter lifespan,” said DHH Secretary Bruce D. Greenstein.

By calling the Louisiana Tobacco Quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669), tobacco users can get support from a highly trained Quit Coach, who will guide and support them through an individualized plan. The Louisiana Tobacco Quitline offers confidential coaching support at no cost for all Louisiana residents ages 13 and older. Registration and Quit Coaches are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Smoking kills 443,000 Americans and 6,500 Louisianans each year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Lung Association. Tobacco doesn’t just kill; it leads to many chronic diseases and conditions such as cancer, heart disease, stroke and lung disease, all of which can cause long-term suffering.

According to the CDC Office on Smoking and Health, nearly 70 percent of current smokers say they want to quit, but only about 4-to-7 percent of smokers who try to quit without help will have long-term success. Research shows that by using a combination of behavioral counseling and medication, individuals making an attempt to quit can more than double their chances of success.

So even if you didn’t make the decision to quit on Nov. 15, set your own quit date and take advantage of the helpful resources provided by DHH and ACS. You don’t have to do it alone.

For more information about the Louisiana Tobacco Quitline, visit http://www.QuitWithUsLA.org. For information about ACS, visit http://www.cancer.org.

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Posted by Graphic Designer 2 on Nov 24 2012. Filed under Editorial. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.