Do You Want to Give up Cigarettes in 2012? Here's Help

You have probably been thinking about quitting smoking for months. Maybe even years. You never buy a carton. All of your family and friends have convinced you that it really is a dirty, unhealthy and expensive habit.

A New Year seems like a great time to get a fresh start.

But how to quit? Can you do it on your own?

That is where the Anne Arundel County Department of Health and community partners are stepping in to offer free "Quit-Smoking" classes and resources.

Classes are available in West River, Annapolis, Glen Burnie and at Harbor Hospital in Baltimore. Many of the classes begin in January—perfect for those making that resolution on Jan. 1 to kick-start a healthy new routine.

Here are locations and contact information for participating sites:

• Anne Arundel Medical Center, Health Sciences Institute, 2000 Medical Parkway, Annapolis.
  Classes to begin in January, March and May.
  Call 443-481-4000 or 1-800-MD-NURSE or visit www.aamcevents.com.
• , 301 Hospital Dr., Glen Burnie.
  Classes to begin in January, March and May.
  Call 410-787-4367 or visit www.mybwmc.org.
• Harbor Hospital, LifeResource Center, 2990 South Hanover St., Baltimore.
  A class will begin in April.
  Call 410-350-2563 or visit www.harborhospital.org/classes.
• Owensville Primary Care, 134 Owensville Rd., West River.
  Start dates are in January and April.
  Call 410-867-4700.

The class are free to adults who live, work or attend school in Anne Arundel County. The classes include counseling and may include nicotine replacement therapy. Pre-registration is required for all of the locations.

The Learn to Live program of the Department of Health offers a Roadmap to Quitting brochure. For more information, visit the Department of Health online or call 410-222-7979.