VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – North Dakotans who are ready to quit tobacco are invited to join thousands of others from around the country to begin a journey toward a tobacco-free life on Thursday, November 15 with the Great American Smoke-out.
The Great American Smoke-out is an annual American Cancer Society event that has helped tobacco users quit for over forty years. Central Valley Health District, City-County Health District, and NDQuits, are supporting the event by providing the tools and education needed to successfully quit tobacco.
Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in North Dakota. City-County Health District and Central Valley Health District provide educational materials and tobacco cessation resources for those wanting to quit any form of tobacco. In addition, NDQuits offers free support, coaching, and a personalized quit plan.
By creating a quit plan and setting a quit date, tobacco users can increase their odds of staying tobacco-free. A quit plan may include identifying tobacco triggers, listing reasons to quit, and building a strong support system.
“The Great American Smoke-out creates an opportunity for tobacco users to contemplate a quit attempt or to start a tobacco-free lifestyle. City-County Health District and Central Valley Health District both have tobacco treatment specialists on staff to answer any questions and to aid in creating a personalized quit plan” said Heather Schwehr, Tobacco Prevention Coordinator at City-County Health District. “Encourage your friends and family members to quit with you. This will increase your chance of quitting successfully by creating a support system to help you overcome cravings and triggers.”
“Within days of quitting tobacco, your body will begin to reap the benefits. It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve attempted to quit,” said Nancy Neary, Director of Tobacco Prevention at Central Valley Health District. “The Great American Smoke-out gives you the opportunity to begin a tobacco-free journey with assistance from our local resources.”
North Dakota’s smoking rate, at 19.8%, is higher than the current national average of 13.9%, according to the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids. In North Dakota, 1,000 adults die prematurely each year from smoking-related illnesses. To put that in perspective, nearly three of our family members and friends die every day from tobacco.
Tobacco users can get help enrolling in NDQuits by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669). TDD users can call toll-free at 1-800-842-4681. Online enrollment is also available at www.ndquits.health.nd.gov.