Become Tobacco Free on the 36th Great American SmokeOut, November 17
Smoking continues to be the nation’s leading cause of preventable disease and death. According to the American Cancer Society, nearly one in every five deaths is related to smoking. Smoking causes more deaths each year than alcohol, car accidents, suicide, AIDS, homicide and illegal drugs combined.
However, a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that nearly 70% of smokers in the U.S. say they want to quit, and 52% tried to quit within the past year. The most important message to smokers is that they can be successful if they have assistance to quit – don’t do it alone.
In Pennsylvania (PA), tobacco users are encouraged to make the SmokeOut the first day of the rest of their life without tobacco. “Quitting smoking can be challenging, but your chances for success increase with help and support,” said Secretary of Health Dr. Eli Avila. “The department provides many services designed to help smokers quit for good. We encourage Pennsylvanians to use November 17 as the first step to living a longer and healthier life.” Online, smokers can access www.DeterminedToQuit.com. The site features an online quit companion, along with other resources and tips designed to help smokers plan a quit attempt. PA also offers a Free Quitline at 800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669), where professional coaches assist smokers by devising a personal quit plan and up to five telephone counseling sessions.
In the Northeast part of PA, Free individual and group counseling is available along with advice and possibly free pharmaceuticals for smokers. For treatment locations near you, click here or call1-866-974-QUIT (7848).
“People want to quit and there are many state and local programs to help them be successful. We want to make them aware of local resources in their own community,” noted Alice Dalla Palu, Executive Director of Tobacco Free Northeast PA.
Media contact: Alice Dalla Palu, alice.dallapalu@lvh.com or 1-866-974-QUIT (7848)
► Please send any comments or suggestions for this and future Newsletters to us here. Your input is valued and appreciated. Please feel free to distribute this Newsletter to others who may be interested. Tobacco Free Northeast PA at Burn Prevention Network is funded by a grant from the PA Department of Health Division of Tobacco Prevention and Control Program to manage tobacco programming in the 10 counties of the Northeast Health District which includes: Carbon, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Northampton, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne, and Wyoming. Tobacco programming in the District is comprised of teen prevention and advocacy, tobacco free policies and tobacco treatment programs. Please visit our website at www.tobaccofreene.com or call 1-866-974-QUIT (7848) for minformation. Tobacco Free Northeast PA does not discriminate with regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry or place of birth, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, handicap or disability
