Professionals offer smoke-free health aids
CVS, the popular drugstore chain, shook the retail world earlier this year when executives announced a decision to remove tobacco products from their shelves.
According to media reports, the 7,700-store chain made the move to avoid conflicting with its continued foray into the health services business including walk-in clinic services.
True to their promise, CVS pulled tobacco products last month – 30 days earlier than planned. And local health-care providers – who have long warned the public of the health risks associated with smoking – are cheering the decision.
“I believe CVS has taken an incredible initiative toward the health of our nation,” Monica Young, a registered nurse and tobacco program coordinator for CHRISTUS Health Shreveport- Bossier, said. “It speaks volumes of their commitment to customers’ health and a willingness to sacrifice potential millions of dollars in revenue. I look forward to other national drug chains following in those footsteps.”
More news: Cigarette smoking in America is declining. According to the Center for Disease Control, the number of American adults who smoke has dropped from 20.9 percent in 2005 to 18.1 percent in 2012 – a 2.8 percent decrease in seven years. And even though Louisiana’s adult smoking rate – currently at 21 percent – is higher than the national average, that number has decreased from 2011’s average of 25.7 percent.
Young, who teaches classes and hosts community events for nine Northwest Louisiana parishes, attributes the decline in smoking to the fact that people are more aware of the harmful effects of tobacco and that it is becoming more difficult for a smoker to enjoy a cigarette in public due to rising number of smoke-free businesses, hospitals, colleges and universities.
But there’s still plenty of work to do.
Some 42.1 million Americans smoke and most of them have smoked since they were teenagers. And according to the CDC, some 6,500 Louisianans die each year from smoking-related illness.
“Most smokers start before the age 18 and have a desire to quit because their life has been directly impacted by the death or illness of someone who smoked,” she said. “Generally speaking, people do not have the awareness or care to hear about the harmful effects of tobacco until it has a devastating impact on their own life. Because of that, we must educate our student population and take preventative action against tobacco use.”
As part of its community health program, CHRISTUS offers free classes and community events to educate the public about the dangers of tobacco use. And because 70 percent of adult smokers started the habit at or before age 18, she focuses much of her efforts on the student population.
“Tobacco smoke has a deadly mixture of over 7,000 chemicals,” she said. “Hundreds of these chemicals are toxic and over 60 are known to cause cancer. Some of these chemicals include: arsenic, ammonia, benzene [found in paint], naphthalene [found in moth balls], nicotine, toluene [glue] and formaldehyde.”
Young said cigarette smoking is the number one cause of preventable disease and death in the United States. “When someone stops smoking, that person lowers their risk for cancer, cardiac disease and many respiratory diseases and illnesses,” she said.
Although Young focuses on community education, she refers smokers who want to quit to “Quit With Us, Louisiana” a smoking cessation program sponsored by the Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco- Free Living (a program of the Louisiana Public Health Institute and the Louisiana Cancer Research Center) and the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals Tobacco Control Program.
Amy Nolan, marketing and outreach coordinator for the Louisiana Public Health Institute, said Quit With Us offers: free telephone-based counseling with a certified Quit Coach; a web-based program with a Quit Coach chat function; a one-month supply of nicotine replacement therapy (patches or gum); self-help materials; and if desired, a referral to a local support group.
“During the counseling session, the Quit Coach will help the individual set a quit date and establish a personalized quit plan,” Nolan said. “Nicotine is a strong addiction and many smokers relapse the first few times they try to quit. The Quitline and the web chat are available 24/7 should an enrollee desire additional support.”
Nolan said the Quit With Us program has a 28.7 percent success rate, based on a sixmonth follow up. Those who do succeed do so based on the level of their motivation.
“For many smokers, the motivation is to improve health, prevent disease, or increase their lifespan,” she said. “For others, it’s family or children [not wanting to smoke around them, or wanting to be there for them in years to come]. And for others, it’s cost savings. Our program encourages smokers to think about what motivates them, and use that to help keep them on track.”
–Jeff Slaughter
Learn more:
For more information about classes and events offered by CHRISTUS Health Shreveport-Bossier, call 681-6828. Call the Louisiana Tobacco Quitline (1-800-Quit-Now) or go to: www. Quitwithusla.org.
