Snuffing out smokes
Statistics from the American Cancer Society blow out myths about the consequences of smoking.
In Illinois, 20.5 percent of adults smoke. The number is higher in Madison County, lower in Monroe County.
About 9,120 new cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed in Illinois and almost 7,000 – 52 every day – will die from it this year.
On Thursday the Great American Smokeout circles a day on the calendar that could stem the statistical tide.
Becky Gehling, health initiatives representative for the American Cancer Society/Metro East Region in Maryville, told of the Smokeout’s incentives.
“They know they will be quitting with lots of others,” she said, “and also with the support of the American Cancer Society. Every day more than a thousand people under age 18 in the U.S. start to smoke.”
Several restaurants will reward those who want to “Quit Cold Turkey.”
“Turning over a pack of cigarettes is a little reward,” said Gehling. “We hope it is a decision that lasts a lifetime, but even doing it for one day deserves it.”
On average, she said, it takes an effort of seven tries before the smoking habit is scuttled.
“It’s still an opportunity for people to think about quitting and know that there are resources out there,” she said. “It’s never easy to do it alone.”
She listed nicotine replacement therapy, quitting cold turkey, online or community cessation programs as opportunities.
In an attempt to thwart smokers before they start, seniors in the Community Health Education program at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville chose to provide information last week to seventh-graders at Coolidge Middle School in Granite City.
“First, we found a need,” said Laura Prochazka, one of the SIUE students, “as peer pressure comes in when students this age head toward high school.”
In a pre-test, they found that seven of 48 students had tried a cigarette. They also asked if their parents smoked.
“Our message is if you start (smoking) at a young age, you are more likely to be addicted to it. If you don’t start at all, it’s better,” she said.
Last week they went to the school. In addition to hearing a health message, seventh-graders looked at what blowing out a $5-a-day habit – almost $2,000 a year – could finance in their young lives.
At McKendree College in Lebanon, an effort this week will be made to shorten the cigarette habit.
Student organizer Madilon Isom said incentive comes from the roughly one million people nationally who quit smoking for at least a day on the Great American Smokeout.
“On Thursday, we are passing out green ribbons,” she said. “If you wear a ribbon, you are not supposed to smoke.”
On Friday, there will be a reward.
Information about quitting smoking will be distributed with coupons for a turkey sandwich to use in the Ames Dining Hall on campus that day.
Where to quit ‘cold turkey’
Several local businesses are offering rewards to people who bring in a cigarette pack on Thursday.
Turkey sandwich: BoBeck’s Sports Bar and Grill, 1324 Jamie Lane, Waterloo
Ham sandwich: Pizza Man, 611 Edwardsville Road, Troy
Cookie with turkey topper: Sweeties Fine Chocolates and Confections, 123 Glen Crossing Road, Glen Carbon
Dessert popover: Irma’s Cafe, 210 Hartman Lane, O’Fallon
Hamburger: Ravanelli’s, 3 American Village, Granite City; 26 Collinsport Drive, Collinsville
For help stopping smoking, call 800-227-2345 or visit http://www.cancer.org
