Thursday is the Great American Smokeout! uploaded by Karrey Britt
The Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department encourages people to quit smoking as part of the American Cancer Society’s 37th annual Great American Smokeout on Thursday.
Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of death and disease in the U.S and Kansas. About 3,900 Kansans die from cigarette smoking every year, and more than 290 Kansans die annually from secondhand smoke.
“Despite these risks, smoking is still a common practice. In Douglas County, one in four individuals identified themselves as a current smoker in 2010.”
— Chris Tilden, director of Community Health
The health department urges residents to use the Kansas Tobacco Quitline — 1-800- QUIT-NOW (784-8669) or www.KSquit.org — when they are ready to quit because it is one of the most cost-effective resources. The service provides free, private counseling and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Studies have found that using a quitline can more than double a person’s chances of successfully quitting tobacco.
The Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department is working with WorkWell Lawrence, a coalition of 21 Douglas County employers representing more than 10,000 employees, to encourage greater use of the Kansas Tobacco Quitline. WorkWell Lawrence is an initiative of LiveWell Lawrence that is managed by K-State Research and Extension — Douglas County. According to Quitline reports, Douglas County employers made less than five referrals during the past year.
On Thursday, the health department and WorkWell Lawrence will provide training for five Douglas County employers — Allen Press, City of Lawrence, DCCCA, The World Company and The Merc — about how to effectively encourage their employees to use the Kansas Tobacco Quitline.
“Employers are key resources to help employees improve their health and well-being,” said Carolyn Crawford, coordinator of WorkWell Lawrence.
The Kansas Tobacco Quitline is offered through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s Tobacco Use Prevention Program.
Uploaded by Karrey Britt
Tagged: Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department, WorkWell Lawrence, Kansas Tobacco Quitline
Comments
Bill_Slu 6 months, 1 week ago
I started smoking when I was a little boy, sneaking puffs off of my grandpas cigars. I started smoking cigs when I was a teenager. I stopped smoking for a year once. Then stopped smoking for 2 years... I stopped smoking for 5 years, and most recently 4 years. I started again in mid July (6 cartons) and have stopped smoking since 11/13/12. My new goal is to stop for six years. The first day is the hardest and I never get rid of the urge. It is more or less will power.
Good Luck everyone.
My question is, how does one compile statistics for dying of secondhand smoke?
Chris_Tilden 6 months, 1 week ago
There are many different methods that have been used to document effects of second-hand smoking. I'm not certain about statistics on mortality, but there is a lot of research documenting much higher rates of certain diseases, such as heart disease and lung cancer, among people subject to second-hand smoke. The Surgeon General's 2006 report, "The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke," is a great resource.
http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/reports/secondhandsmoke/index.html
kbritt 6 months, 1 week ago
Best of luck Bill and thanks for sharing your story!
toe 6 months, 1 week ago
Smoking and being over weight will land you in jail soon. The higher health care cost being passed on the the public treasury will incite the masses.
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