PDF
The 1982 Surgeon General Report stated that “cigarette smoking is the major single cause of cancer mortality in the US,” and the truth of that statement rings true today.
Luckily, we now have restrictions on who can be the targets of tobacco companies’ advertising dollars, as well as additional help and resources to aide those who want to quit. The Great American Smokeout is one weapon in the arsenal to “infect truth.”
The Smokeout is Thursday, November 21, 2002, and described by Heatha Schena, Assistant Director of Health Services, as a “nationally recognized day that challenges people to stop using tobacco for that day, and hopefully for good. The day offers camaraderie and support for those persons who are thinking about quitting smoking, as well as to create awareness as to the dangers of smoking and the effective ways in which to quit.”
Nationally, the first Smokeout was held in 1977, with nearly 1 million people putting an end to their smoking habits, at least for the day. A Massachusetts native was the beginning of this event when the resident asked people to give up smoking for the day and to donate their would be cigarette funds to a local school.
The reasons to quit are real, as the public continues to see through anti-smoking campaigns and initiatives. According to Schena, “a cigarette contains more than 4,000 chemicals, 43 of which are carcinogens. These include nicotine, acetone (nail polish remover), ammonia (cleaning agent), arsenic (poison), cadmium (used in rechargeable batteries), hydrogen cyanide (gas chamber poison), and methanol (used in rocket fuel), as well as others.”
Health problems associated with smoking “include lung cancer, respiratory illnesses such as emphysem and chronic bronchitis, heart disease, additional susceptibility to colds, cancer of the mouth, bladder, kidneys, pancreas cervix, and stomach. Here in Health Services we see that students with asthma, bronchitis, and pneumonia, who also smoke, take significantly longer to get better than non-smokers” adds Schena.
Unfortunately, smokers are also taking their toll on those around them via second hand smoke. Schena adds, “Approximately 53,000 people die annually from illnesses that are felt to be related to secondhand smoke.”
Unfortunately, quitting is not easy, as “the normal person will have nicotine in their system for 3 to 4 days after smoking their last cigarette,” says Schena. Health Services will be offering help to individuals interested in quitting by offering individual counseling sessions and nicotine replacement therapy. In addition, there will be a “How to Quit Smoking” class on Wednesday, November 20 at 1:00 p.m. in Health Services.
For those who are able to quit, Schena estimates the “cost benefit of quitting at $6.00 a pack.” She lists some of the immediate rewards as “improvements in appearance, elimination of bad breath, stained teeth, gum disease, bad smelling clothes and hair, yellow fingernails, and will enjoy better tasting food and an improved sense of smell.”
Health Service’s tips for quitting include putting your cigarettes, lighters, and ashtrays out of sight and to keep your hands and mouth busy, as well as to meet with a health care provider (available at Health Services) and/or to create a support group.
The health care professionals at Health Services are available to any student who wants their assistance to quit smoking. They can be reached at extension 2222.
Comments on this entry are closed.