A New Cessation Project for Smokers’ Health
It is very hard to quit smoking. That’s why many smokers kick the bad habit easier thanks to medications help. For example, more than 5,600 Louisiana tobacco users received free medication last month to help overcome their addiction to tobacco.
The initiative was part of a statewide promotion to assist with tobacco cessation by providing a month’s provide of nicotine replacement therapy patches to inhabitants trying to quit smoking.
This cessation project was funded by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals’ Tobacco Control Program and the Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living. Thanks to this project citizens received free nicotine replacement therapy patches and cessation counseling.
Tiffany Netters, program manager for the Louisiana Tobacco Control Program, explained: “With the recent increase in the cost of cigarettes, more and more people are choosing now to quit, and the more support they have, the better their chances of success”.
Statistics show that more than 20 percent of Louisiana residents are smokers or tobacco users. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, evidence has shown that all of the commercially available forms of nicotine replacement therapy (the gum, patch, inhaler and tablets) are effective in promoting smoking cessation and double the odds of successful quitting.
For example, similar nicotine replacement therapy promotions were organized in Maine, New York and Ohio and reported positive results.
Six months after their promotion, New York conducted a follow-up survey which determined that 22 percent of those who had received nicotine replacement therapy vouchers were no longer smoking, compared to 12 percent of visitors who did not receive any vouchers. Findings were similar in Ohio and Maine.
That’s why the Louisiana Tobacco Control Program decided to try these programs in Louisiana too.
“Promotions like this help reach those who have trouble quitting on their own,” said Ashley Ross, director of the Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living. “We hope to continue offering programs like this to help keep inhabitants motivated and reach their goals.”
I think it is the biggest battle that I have been faced with in my 54 years of life. It has taken away the rewards my family and I would have recieved over the years if it had not been there. Even though I know, that doing it, will increase my chances to not be able to breath I can’t find a way to stop. For two generations before me, now mine and beginning to overcome the next generation smoking remains to rob those of the things they would surely want down the road and years. And Still I can’t stop. I have given alot of time and thought into quitting over the last year the problem is that I have continued to do it while I did. I work in a convienant store where getting them is always right there so my plight continues. In January 2008, after a hospital visit, I did quit for 17 days. I had been given the patch while in the hospital but discontinued after I couldn’t get them. However, the smoking continued. I was sneaking butts out of the ashtrays while my wife was gone. She continues to smoke also. I guess my comment is that THE BATTLES THAT END UP BEING OUR TRUEST TEST ARE THE BATTLES WE HAVE WITH OURSELVES. tOMORROW WILL BE ANOTHER DAY TO TRY AND QUIT. Thanks for listening, Allen