Turn in tobacco for free quit-kit
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March 24, 2013 |
Panhandle Health District (PHD) will collect
tobacco in early April from the people who want
it out of their lives. National Public Health
Week is April 1-7, and one of the healthy
behaviors PHD will emphasize throughout the
month is tobacco cessation.
From Monday, April 1, through Thursday, April 4,
every PHD office in the five northern counties
will accept tobacco in any form in trade for a
free Quit Kit. The kits will include gum, mints,
toothpaste, a relaxation CD, sunflower seeds,
fresh fruit, a toothbrush, bottle of water, quit
resources and more.
“Our goals are to reduce the smoking rate and to
provide resources,” says Linda Harder, PHD’s
coordinator of Tobacco Prevention and Cessation
programs.
Tobacco-users will deposit their tobacco in
large glass jars filled with vinegar which PHD
will keep on public display throughout the week.
Registration for PHD’s free tobacco cessation
course will be available at the time users make
their deposits.
“In 2011 in our five northern counties, 135 of
our citizens died of lung cancer and 446
northern Idahoans died of heart disease,” said
Lora Whalen, PHD director. “I urge every one of
us to think about these statistics and consider
the correlation between smoking and these
deaths.”
The adult smoking rate in northern Idaho ranges
from 18 percent to 28 percent, depending on
county. The state’s rate is 17 percent and the
national goal is 13 percent.
PHD offers the American Cancer Society’s
Freshstart program.
Freshstart includes motivational intervention
activities, practical counseling, social support
and education about medication and approaches to
quitting based on evidence that these methods
help with success.
The Freshstart program is four weekly one-hour
sessions.
Turn in Your Tobacco is one component of PHD’s
National Public Health Week activities designed
to improve health throughout northern Idaho.
Other activities include the month-long Moving
Minutes Challenge to promote physical activity
and the showing of the PBS series “The Weight of
the Nation.”
PHD offices in all five counties will collect
tobacco 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
April 1-4. The office in Hayden also will
collect through the lunch hour.
For information, call (208) 415-5143 or visit
www.phd1.idaho.gov. |
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