Each
year, an entire day is designated as the Great American
Smokeout, when smokers are encouraged to quit for
one day, in the hope that they will quit for good.
Tomorrow, Nov. 17, is the designated day to put
the smoke out in 2005. In addition to cigarette
users, those that chew tobacco are also encouraged
to participate.
Rez
Seyedin, founder of Smoke Free Society, Palm Beach,
Fla. - a national, nonprofit organization
dedicated to helping smokers quit and educating
kids not to start - urges everyone to get involved
and help their loved ones quit smoking.
“If
we care and want a healthier future, we must all
work together to help our friends and loved ones
quit smoking,” said Seyedin. “When someone
quits smoking, they not only improve their own life,
their secondhand smoke no longer harms or kills
their loved ones around them.
The
National Cancer Institute reports that about half
the smoke generated by every cigarette is considered
“secondhand smoke,” which contains the
same harmful substances as mainstream smoke.
THE
FACTS
“Tragically,
one out of four Americans smoke,” Seyedin
continued. “That means in a family of four,
either the father or mother, or both, are smokers
endangering their lives, as well as their two childrens'
lives and future. Sadly, an average smoker spends
over $1,800 a year on their cigarettes alone, and
that doesn't include all other related costs.”
Seyedin said.
According
to the Smoke Free Society, more Americans die from
cigarette-related illnesses than car accidents,
AIDS, alcohol, suicide, homicide and illegal drugs
combined. Javayne Oyloe, Health Promotion Team Leader
at the Upper Missouri District Health Unit in Williston,
confirms that fact.
“It
is the number one preventable cause of death, with
100,000 people dying every year,” Oyloe said.
“Cigarette smoking attributes to so many things,
like heart disease and cancer.”
According
to Oyloe, about 20 percent of the adult population
in North Dakota are smokers. That number has been
constant for many years. Within the high school
population, however, the numbers are rapidly plummeting.
“In
1999, we were at 41 percent,” said Oyloe of
North Dakota high school students who smoked. “As
of the Spring of 2005, we are at 22 percent.”
She
attributed the positive change to a combination
of increased education in schools, smoke-free areas
that have come about with new laws and the fact
that it's not a social norm as it used to be. Also,
more private venues of quitting are now available.
THE
SMOKE-FREE LAW
In
the past, the Impact Coalition would request that
businesses, especially restaurants, go smoke-free
for the Great American Smokeout day. However, since
a new smoke-free law recently came into effect in
North Dakota, no specific requests were made this
year. On Aug. 1, 2005, the entire state of North
Dakota implemented the Smoke-Free Law (NDCC 23-12-09)
to reflect the state's commitment to protect the
health of its citizens and recognize the right of
individuals to breath smoke-free air. The law prohibits
smoking in all enclosed areas of public places and
employment, with some exceptions such as bars and
privately-designated areas.
The
North Dakota Department of Health has produced a
guide to the new smoke-free law so that the public
can become familiar with the facts.
“By
educating the community, it helps reinforce the
law,” said Oyloe, who added that she has received
calls from people who have felt a business within
the four-county service area (Williams, Mountrail,
Divide and McKenzie) wasn't following the law. Oyloe
said the concerned citizens' calls are followed
through with the notification of law enforcement.
OPTIONS
FOR QUITTING
When
the day comes that a tobacco user living in a rural
area decides to quit, there are now more options
available. From Williston, the nearest cessation
classes offered are in Minot, which may be why Northwest
North Dakota has a low attendance rate for the classes,
according to Oyloe, although the region's quit rate
is level with that of the state. However, after
legislation passed funding during the Fall 2003
session for a state-wide quit line - the North Dakota
Tobacco Quitline - tobacco users in Northwest North
Dakota began using it.
“People
aren't willing to travel two hours to attend a cessation
class,” said Oyloe. “But if they can
sit at home on their own phone ... it makes a big
difference. We've had a great deal of calls come
from our area, so people are using it and they are
trying to quit.” She continued, “The
Quitline is what most local health care providers
are referring people to.”
After
an initial call that includes a 30-minute intake
and one counseling session, callers can sign up
for additional counseling sessions. A benefit for
low-income callers that fall at 200 percent of the
poverty level is eligibility for free nicotine and
therapy gum.
In
addition to being more convenient than cessation
classes, the Quit Line also offers a more private
venue.
“They
can do it privately and not have anyone know they
do use tobacco,” said Oyloe.
PUTTING
OUT TOBACCO
According
to both Oyloe and the Smoke Free Society, a great
number of tobacco users across the nation do take
part in the Great American Smokeout each year, with
many taking the step to permanently quit. But when
some local smokers were asked if they were aware
of the event, and if they planned to take part in
it, only one out of five responded positively.
During
the month of November, the Smoke Free Society offers
its “Proven Stop Smoking Technique”
as a free online download, available at www.SmokeFreeSociety.org.
The technique claims to help smokers quit in just
17 days, without use of any substance or drug. It
also helps smokers understand the hazardous effects
their smoking has on their loved ones' lives.
For
free, private phone counseling support to help you
quit using tobacco, contact the North Dakota Tobacco
Quitline at (866) 388-QUIT. And, for more information
on North Dakota's Smoke-Free Law, contact Javayne
Oyloe at the Upper Missouri District Health Unit
at 774-6409. http://www.willistonherald.com/articles/2005/11/16/news/news3.txt
Secondhand
smoke equivalency:
-
Sitting in the non-smoking section of a restaurant
= 1.5 cigarettes
-
Living in a pack-a-day smoker's home = 3 cigarettes
-
Sitting in a smoky bar for two hours = 4 cigarettes
-
Riding in a car for one hour with a smoker = 4 cigarettes
For
more information on quitting techniques and free
download of its "Proven Stop Smoking Technique"
(a $40.00 value) the entire month of November, go
to its website at www.SmokeFreeSociety.org
or email them at CustomerCare@smokefreesociety.org
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