Wednesday, November 20, 2002
|
Wednesday, November 20, 2002 |
Georgians urged to support Great American SmokeoutThinking about kicking the habit? Tomorrow's Great American Smokeout is a great opportunity to take the first step, and UNITE Georgia is urging everyone to take quitting one step further by dining in a smoke-free restaurant. Anyone thinking about quitting will find great support in UNITE Georgia's statewide toll-free Quit Line, 1-877-270-STOP. The statewide Quit Line is an easy way for Georgians to connect with trained professionals who can aid in cessation from all forms of tobacco including cigarettes, chew, cigars and pipes. Individuals addicted to tobacco can become non-users through this free resource that includes support tailored to the needs of each caller. "In addition to helping people quit using tobacco, we also are urging everyone to support smoke-free restaurants in the community Nov. 21," said NaTasha L. Howard, Tobacco Use Prevention coordinator, District Four Health Services (Butts, Carroll, Coweta, Fayette, Heard, Henry, Lamar, Meriwether, Pike, Spalding, Troup and Upson counties). "We have a large number of restaurants in the area that provide smoke-free dining, and we're encouraging residents to show support for these retailers who provide a smoke-free option." According to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System 2000 data, 21.8 percent of adults in the health district use tobacco, she added. "An overwhelming majority of the community does not use tobacco and deserves to enjoy smoke-free air," Howard said. An estimated 53,000 people die every year from heart disease, lung cancer and other cancers related to secondhand smoke. Many workers breathe in enough secondhand smoke every day to suffer some of the same hazardous health effects seen in smokers. Secondhand smoke is a harmful substance that contains more than 60 known carcinogens and 200 known poisons, including acetone and naphthalene found in household items such as nail polish remover and mothballs. Anyone can be affected by secondhand smoke and a comprehensive study by the EPA has found that secondhand smoke causes lung cancer in adult non-smokers and serious respiratory problems in children such as asthma. District Four Health Services Tobacco Use Prevention program is funded by UNITE Georgia. UNITE Georgia is an initiative of the Tobacco Use Prevention Section, DHR Division of Public Health, in partnership with the Georgia Cancer Coalition. UNITE Georgia, a state-supported and community-driven program, aims to create a better understanding and awareness of tobacco's effect on Georgia. For more information about the free Tobacco Quit Line or to learn about the dangers of secondhand smoke, please contact Natasha L. Howard at (706) 845-4035.
|
||