Today, there are people in our community who are taking part in the American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout event. Encourage someone you know to use today to make a plan to quit or actually quit smoking today. By quitting – even for 1 day – smokers will be taking an important step toward a healthier life and reducing their cancer risk.
Tobacco use is still the #1 preventable cause of disease and premature death.
While cigarette smoking rates have dropped (from 42% in 1965 to 17% in 2014), cigar, pipe, and hookah – other dangerous and addictive ways to smoke tobacco – are very much on the rise. Smoking kills people – there’s no “safe” way to smoke tobacco.
Quitting smoking has immediate and long-term benefits at any age. And, at any given time, most people want to quit. Hard to quit the addiction? Yes. Impossible? No.
Getting help through counseling or medications can double or triple the chances of quitting successfully.
Local and state resources include:
- The New York State Smokers’ Quitline 1-866-697-8487. They provide free coaching and patches for tobacco users, as well as offer a chat forum and text messaging. They also have resources you can download from their website at nysmokefree.com
- Cayuga Medical Center (607-252-3590), Cortland Regional Medical Center (607-756-3807) & Mothers & Babies Perinatal Network (800-231-0744) offer support for those seeking help. Medicaid covers many medications.
- Family Counseling Services offers a smoking cessation program to clients who are enrolled in our mental health and chemical dependency services. Speak to your counselor about the program.