Breaking This Habit is a Lifesaver
Quitting is far easier said than done. I’ve watched friends and family struggle with this for years. Some of them, like me, have a family medical history showing them smoking is less than a fast track to an early grave. Most of them know they shouldn’t smoke, but do. A few of them want to, and many more continue to smoke because, frankly, it’s easier to keep smoking than quit.
This week, we’re going to talk about some of the many options for getting help to quit as this Tuesday, May 31st is the annual World No Tobacco Day. Created by the World Health Organization (WHO), World No Tobacco Day is one of many entry points for smokers who want to quit to try, and often, try again.
The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) estimates 2,600 New Mexicans die annually from smoking and another 42,000 people suffer with at least one serious illness from smoking.
The constant push about not smoking comes from the long proven fact that smoking is the leading preventable cause of disease and death in the world. Its list of medical problems include cancer of the lung, mouth, larynx, throat, esophagus, kidney and pancreas. It leads to chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Smoking is also linked to heart, peripheral artery or blood vessel disease, and it causes medical complications for many other issues from diabetes to fertility, pregnancy and more.
Two silver linings to all this: quitting smoking is a winnable battle. There are many free or affordable quit-smoking treatments that are easily available to people who want to quit, and according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is smoking rates have been cut in half in the United States since 1964.
If you want to quit, here's some places where you can find help:
- NMDOH’s Nicotine Use Prevention and Control Program (TUPAC) offers free counseling services and an 8-week supply of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (patches, lozenges and gum) for participants who register with the quit line. Just call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669)
or 1-855-DEJELO-YA (1-855-335-3569). - The QUITNOW Smartphone App is one of many apps available to help you quit. You’ll find it on iTunes and Google Play. The no-cost app provides smartphone users with a downloadable tool that supports them throughout the quit process, helping them set a quit date, identify reasons for quitting and conquer cravings once they’ve quit. The app boasts more than two million users crediting it for their success.
- Smokefree.gov provides free, accurate, evidence-based information and professional assistance to help support the immediate and long-term needs of people trying to quit smoking.
- Smoke Free Women provides free, accurate, evidence-based information and professional assistance to help support the immediate and long-term needs of women trying to quit smoking.
- Smoke Free TXT is a teen texting site offering smoking cessation tips and information via text message.
- Million Hearts® Initiative is a national initiative to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes by 2017. Million Hearts™ brings together communities, health systems, nonprofit organizations, federal agencies, and private-sector partners from across the country to fight heart disease and stroke.
We know quitting is not easy, but we encourage you to find the quit method that works best for you. No nicotine in your life is a one day at a time process – one that could add years to your life.
Media Contact
We would be happy to provide additional information about this press release. Simply contact David Morgan at 575-528-5197 (Office) or 575-649-0754 (Mobile) with your questions.
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