Show A Day for Smokers to Quit for Good By Sara Nelson News Editor The US U.S. Surgeon General calls cigarette smoking the most important tant single cause of preventable death in the United States The American Cancer Society ACS recognizes the risks of smoking smoking smoking ing for smokers and smokers non-smokers alike and this year it has designated Thursday Nov 16 as the Great American The Great American is isa isa isa a day smokers can prove to themselves themselves themselves them them- selves that they can quit For nonsmokers nonsmokers nonsmokers non- non smokers it is a day to work toward a better healthier smoke-free smoke environ environ- ment More smokers try to quit on the third Thursday of November each year than on any other day of the year said Carla Marr communication tion director ACS New Years Day is the runner up for quitters Now in its year the American Cancer Society expects nearly 10 million smokers to take part in the 1995 Great American Each year about 20 percent percent percent per per- cent of all the nations smokers P f Regular smokers are at a greater risk of developing disorders of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems systems systems which include respiratory infections infections infections elevated blood pressure and coronary heart disease The risk of dying from lung cancer cancer cancer can can- is 22 times higher for men and 12 times higher for women who smoke than for lifetime smokers non-smokers stated the US U.S. Department of Health and Human Services The Do It Now Foundation estimates estimates estimates esti esti- mates that smokers die an average of 83 years sooner than lifetime non- non smokers And regular smokers are more susceptible to a list of diseases no one wants Cancer of the larynx mouth esophagus and lungs are commonly involved with regular smokers According to the US U.S. Department of Health and Human Services four of the five leading causes of death are related to cigarette cigarette cigarette ciga ciga- rette smoking They estimate that smoking is responsible for deaths per year from coronary heart disease Another deaths per year come from cancer deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and almost deaths from other smoking-related smoking diseases and accidents Although cigarettes contain nicotine nicotine nicotine nico nico- tine a highly addictive drug smokers ers can and have quit Smokers who already think the damage is done are wrong Once you quit your body starts repairing itself Your body starts flushing all of the toxins out of your system If you quit and stay quit in most cases it can be as if youve you've never smoked The ACS offers the Program to smokers who want to quit The Program is a straight forward nonsense no-nonsense quit- quit smoking program that will help smokers stay off cigarettes after the Marr said It offers group support valuable information and strategies for conquering conquering conquering con con- smoking in your thoughts feelings and actions including handling handling handling han han- weight-control weight and stress man man- contains all of the elements elements elements ele ele- ele- ele ments that can help smokers to stop and actually stay off cigarettes Marr said The program consists of four one-and-a one hour half-hour sessions held during a two week period About 15 12 people form a quit smoking group and are led by certified certified certified fied facilitators many of whom are ex An option available to women between the ages of 18 and 44 is the Women's Nicotine Patch Project This project works in conjunction with the program Research shows that nicotine patches are only 20 percent effective but the success rate jumps to 80 percent when combined with behavior modification modification modification modi modi- classes Marr said Those who qualify for the Nicotine Patch Project must be able to attend six one-hour one ses ses- ses- ses Women participating in the project project project pro pro- will wilI receive approximately 50 percent off the retail price of six weeks worth of nicotine patches The total cost cast of the Program is 20 The cost of the Nicotine Patch Project is 81 27 weekly bi-weekly and the registration registration registration regis regis- fee will wilI be waived For more information about either program call the American Cancer at ACS 1 Society |