VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Partners from the North Dakota Department of Health, Tobacco Free North Dakota, and North Dakota local public health units encourage all tobacco and e-cigarette users in North Dakota to set a quit date during It’s Quitting Time June 14-20.
This week-long awareness campaign brings attention to the dangers of tobacco and nicotine while encouraging users to seek help quitting from a healthcare provider, pharmacist, NDQuits, or your local public health unit. These entities can help develop a quit plan and provide tools and resources to greatly improve a tobacco user’s odds at success. Local public health and NDQuits provide additional support in the form of personal coaching and nicotine replacement therapy medication. Free nicotine patches, nicotine gum, or nicotine lozenges are provided to qualified candidates.
Tobacco and e-cigarette use is associated with several health risks including many types of cancers, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19. E-cigarette use is also linked to E-cigarette or Vaping Product Use-Associated Lung Injury (EVALI), a serious respiratory illness that could be severe and life-threatening.
“Most tobacco and nicotine users want to quit. They try and then fail because they aren’t getting the help they need. Setting a quit date during It’s Quitting Time can help,” said Nancy Neary, Tobacco Treatment Specialist at Central Valley Health District in Jamestown. “Talk to your provider or local public health about resources available and how to get started.”
“Resources are available at Central Valley Health District in Jamestown, and City-County Health District in Valley City. Quitting tobacco and nicotine doesn’t have to feel stressful or overwhelming. You can stay tobacco-free for good, let us help you get there,” said Heather Schwehr, Tobacco Treatment Specialist with City-County Health District. “It’s Quitting Time is a great opportunity to get help quitting tobacco and e-cigarettes.”
Despite declining tobacco use rates in North Dakota, 17% of adults in the state still smoke. According to the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, smoking causes 1,000 deaths each year in the state, and contributes to about $326 million in annual healthcare. Tobacco is still a problem in North Dakota, Central Valley Health District, City-County Health District, Tobacco Free North Dakota, and NDQuits are committed to reducing the toll tobacco has on our state.
To learn about resources available to quit tobacco and nicotine, contact Central Valley Health District at 701-252-8130, City-County Health District at 701-845-8518, or www.nquits.health.nd.gov.