The Great American Smokeout: Community Resources to Help People Quit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nov. 20, 2013

For more information, please contact:

Nancy Woolery, Health Projects Manager, City of Bloomington Community and Family Resources Department, 349.3851

The Great American Smokeout: Community Resources to Help People Quit

Bloomington, Ind. - Every year on the third Thursday of November, the American Cancer Society encourages tobacco users (smokers and chewers) to use the date to make a plan to quit or to plan in advance and quit smoking that one day. This year's date is Nov. 21. By quitting, even for one day, tobacco users will be taking an important step towards a healthier life, one that can lead to reducing cancer risk and other tobacco-related diseases.

Tobacco remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the United States, yet about 43.8 million Americans still smoke cigarettes, which is nearly 1 in every 5 adults. Indiana has one of the highest prevalence rates of smoking in the U.S.; 25.6% of the adult population (aged 18+years), or about 1.25 million people report being a current smoker. Indiana has the seventh highest smoking rate among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. In 2010, 9,700 people died and $4.7 billion was spent on annual health and other economic costs as a result of tobacco use in Indiana.

Nicotine is one of the most addictive drugs next to crack cocaine. Quitting is hard, but a person can increase their chances of success with help. We have been very fortunate here in Monroe County to provide free, ongoing community tobacco cessation classes with the support of IU Health Bloomington Hospital. Currently the hospital sponsors five community classes on different days, times and locations. The classes are free, meet weekly and are taught by trained tobacco cessation facilitators. The facilitators can distribute free nicotine replacement therapy products (nicotine gum, patches and lozenges) to participants who need the extra support.

Free classes are available at the following times and locations:

• Tuesdays at 6:00 p.m., 714 S. Rogers St., Bloomington.

• Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m., Owen County YMCA in Spencer, IN.

(For this location, please contact Dave Newgent at 828.9622 for more information.)

• Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. at the Arby's in Ellettsville, 3601 W. State Road 46.

• Fridays at 12:00 p.m. at the Volunteers in Medicine Clinic, 811 W. Second St., Bloomington.

• Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. at the IU Health Bloomington Hospital Medical Arts Building, 619 W. First St., Bloomington.

One-on-one counseling is available for those who cannot attend a scheduled class. For more information on this, please call 353.5811.

The Indiana Quit Line is also available at 1-800-QUITNOW. Tobacco cessation counselors are available 24 hours, 7 days a week.

The health benefits of quitting start immediately after the last cigarette: a person's heart rate and blood pressure drop, carbon monoxide in the blood drops to normal, circulation improves, lung function increases, coughing and shortness of breath decreases, excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a continuing smoker's and risk of certain types of cancer, coronary heart disease and stroke are reduced.

On Nov. 21, join millions of Americans as they give up tobacco for one day and seek the help and support they need to go Smoke Free forever.

For more information, contact Health Projects Manager Nancy Woolery at 349.3851.

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