VALLEY CITY, N.D. (CCHD) – Ditch the dip with help from City-County Health District (CCHD) and Central Valley Health District (CVHD) during Through With Chew Week February 20-26. Smokeless tobacco users are encouraged to make the Great American Spit Out on February 24 their designated quit date. Setting a quit date greatly improves a tobacco user’s chance at success.
City-County Health District and Central Valley Health District have the tools and resources for smokeless tobacco users who want to quit tobacco. Both public health units are educating the community about how smokeless tobacco can cause harm and encourage young people never to start using these products.
“Quitting smokeless tobacco reduces the risk of cancer, heart disease, birth defects, and even death,” said Nancy Neary, Tobacco Treatment Specialist with Central Valley Health District. “Using any tobacco product poses a risk to your health, and Through With Chew Week is a great time to take back control of your health.”
In 2020, nearly 11% of North Dakota adult males reported using smokeless tobacco in the last 30 days. Both adult and high school-aged males currently use smokeless tobacco more than six times the females’ rate. City-County Health District and Central Valley Health District recognize the most effective way to quit tobacco is to make a quit plan. Our offices assist those wanting to quit tobacco by providing educational materials and tobacco cessation coaching. In addition, the statewide tobacco cessation program, NDQuits, offers free support and coaching through phone and web programs.
“There is no such thing as safe a tobacco product,” said Heather Schwehr, Tobacco Treatment Specialist with City-Country Health District. “The fact is smokeless tobacco is harmful and can cause a number of health risks that are associated with its use. Tobacco users should use the Great American Spit Out as an opportunity to quit.”
City-County Health District and Central Valley Health District both have tobacco treatment specialists (TTS), A TTS receives specialized training about tobacco-related health conditions, cessation medications, and behavioral counseling. Through behavioral counseling, a TTS helps you develop a quit plan that breaks routines to avoid triggers and prepare for cravings to make your quit attempt more successful. A TTS can recommend cessation medications to reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings. Receiving counseling and using cessation medications more than double your rate of success.
For help with quitting smokeless tobacco, for Barnes County residents,contact City-County Health District at 701-845-8518. For Stutsman and Logan Counties, contact Central Valley Health District at 701-252-8130. Or visit https://ndquits.health.nd.gov/.