Editorial: Help is out there to quit smoking
Dec 7, 2006, 17:19
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Thursday is the 30th anniversary of the Great American Smokeout — the day the American Cancer Society urges all smokers to give up cigarettes for a day as a start toward complete smoking cessation. Though the number of smokers continues to decline, one in five people in Sheboygan County still smokes, according to a report in March "The Burden of Tobacco in Sheboygan County" put out by the University of Wisconsin, American Cancer Society and the state Division of Public Health. In real numbers, that means there are about 23,650 smokers in the county. A more sobering number is the 145 people who die each year from smoking, with lung cancer and respiratory diseases the leading causes. The economic impact of smoking in Sheboygan County totals $78.5 million — $44.6 million in health-related costs and $33.9 million from lost productivity. Compared to other counties in the state, Sheboygan ranks high in the percentage of people who smoke, and high in the cancer-risk category. Many companies throughout the county recognize the economic impact smoking has and have banned employees from smoking on the job. Most, if not all, public buildings in Sheboygan County are smoke-free and many restaurants and other places that cater to the public have banned smoking. So, the trend is clearly toward a smoke-free society and getting more people to quit. The key to any effort to quit smoking, according to the American Cancer Society, is to have some means of support while trying to kick the habit. This can be as simple as teaming up with a friend or relative who is also trying to quit to give each other the emotional support needed. Study after study has shown that the nicotine in cigarettes is highly addictive and trying to quit on one's own — while it works for some — often results in failure. The good news is that there are many different kinds of support smokers can try. In Sheboygan County, the Tobacco-Free Sheboygan County Coalition promotes the Wisconsin Tobacco Quit line, a toll-free phone number people can call to talk with a smoking cessation expert on how to develop a plan to quit. The number is (877) 270-7867 and it is available between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. seven days a week. Your personal physician is also a great source for information on how to quit smoking. He or she can also discuss with you the effectiveness of the many different kinds of medications or quit-smoking products available. The human resources department at your place of employment will be glad to assist in getting information and help on how to quit smoking. The American Cancer Society and others working to get people to quit smoking have Web sites dedicated to helping people develop plans to quit. Thursday would be a good day to get the help you need to start your plan to quit smoking.
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