Quit Today: Great American Smokeout

NANUET, NY - From Rockland County Legislature: Rockland County Legislator Aney Paul encourages smokers and all users of tobacco products to participate in this year’s Great American Smokeout so they can get the support needed to kick the potentially life-threatening habit.

“A shocking 36.5 million Americans still smoke cigarettes, putting their health, and the health of others exposed to the second-hand smoke, at risk,” Legislator Paul said. “Quitting can be extremely difficult, but the right support, including counseling and medications, can greatly improve the chance for success.”

Paul holds a Doctorate in Nursing Practice and has been a nurse for more than 30 years. She has sponsored healthy lifestyle education events and worked to successfully pass local laws related to smoking, including banning electronic cigarettes in public facilities such as restaurants, bars and other places where tobacco use is prohibited.

“I encourage all smokers and all users of tobacco to get the support that can make a difference when it comes to their health,” Legislator Paul. “The Great American Smokeout is the perfect reminder to commit to kicking this dangerous habit.”

According to the American Cancer Society, tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the world. While cigarette smoking rates have dropped from 42 percent in 1965 to 15.1 percent in 2015, cigar, pipe, and hookah use – other dangerous and addictive ways to smoke tobacco – are on the rise. Smoking kills people – there is no “safe” way to smoke tobacco, according to the American Cancer Society.

Quitting smoking has immediate and long-term benefits at any age. Getting help through counseling or medications can double or triple the chances of quitting successfully, according to the American Cancer Society, which sponsors the Great American Smokeout to raise awareness about the need to quit smoking and the availability of help when it comes to quitting.

Here are some tips:

• Call the New York State Smokers' Quitline at 1-866-697-8487 to order a free two-week supply of nicotine replacement patches.
• Visit https://www.nysmokefree.com/ for quitting assistance or to get "quit-tips" sent to your smart phone.
• Visit the American Cancer Society for tips on quitting and ways non-smokers can help smokers.

• Participate in the Rockland County Health Department’s Put It Out Rockland Program. The low-cost program provides a combination of support, behavior modification (helping you develop new healthy habits), and nicotine replacement products to increase your chances of quitting. Open to anyone who lives, works, or attends school in Rockland County. Call the Health Department's Tobacco Cessation Specialist at (845) 364-2651 or visit Quit Smoking Rockland for more information.

Image courtesy of The American Cancer Society