Most people are aware that smoking causes major health risks. What some don’t always realize is once a person is hooked on nicotine it can be one of the most difficult accomplishments to kick the habit.
There are many avenues smokers may take to try to quit smoking; one is to join the Kansas Tobacco Quitline (KanQuit).
The program is free and gives people one-on-one email, live chat or phone sessions with a certified cessation counselor.
Monday at 11:30 a.m., Matthew Schrock, cessation coordinator for Kansas Department of Health and Environment, will be in the basement of the Allen County Hospital to present information about how KanQuit can help smokers who want to quit.
This will be the third year a representative has come to Allen County. Damaris Kunkler, Thrive Allen County program director, said the presentation is open to the public, and the hope is to have representatives from health care offices around the county come to the meeting so doctors may refer patients to the KanQuit program.
The Kansas Indoor Clean Air Act went into effect in 2010 and, “people are really beginning to notice that they really can’t smoke in restaurants and bars anymore,” Kunkler said.
Nineteen percent of Allen Countians are smokers. Kunkler and other Thrive members are dedicated on making the county residents healthier.
Some of the benefits of quitting is saving money, avoiding risk of heart attack and death. Also stroke and lung cancer risks are less for non-smokers.
KanQuit not only focuses on helping smokers quit but also the people who use smokeless tobacco. Even with smokeless cigarettes people are at a higher risk of getting mouth and throat cancer.
For more information contact the Thrive office at (620) 365-8128 or visit the KanQuit website at www.QuitNow.net/Kansas or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (784-8669).
