Press release:
We are encouraging the Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, and Wyoming communities to commit or recommit to healthy, tobacco-free lives by participating in the American Cancer Society Great American Smoke out on Nov. 16.
“The most important thing smokers can do to improve their health is to quit cigarettes and other forms of Combustible tobacco,” said Cindy Perry, director of Health Education, Wellness, and Outreach at Community Partners. “As leaders in promoting health and wellness, we are showing our support for people who take those first steps toward making a plan to quit.”
Tobacco use is the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the United States. About half of all Americans who keep smoking will die because of the habit. Each year more than 480,000 people in the United States die from illnesses related to tobacco use. This means smoking causes about 1 out of 5 deaths in the United States annually.
According to Patricia Crowley, Drug-Free Coalition of Orleans project director, “tobacco is one of the strongest addictions one can have, about 40 million American adults still smoke. We used to encourage smokers to quit cold turkey on a single day. However, current evidence shows that quitting is a process. It starts with a plan, often takes time and requires a lot of support.”
On Nov. 16th, Tobacco Free GLOW is partnering with local organizations to raise awareness and encourage people to contact the NYS Quitline at 1-866-697-8487, which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide support as people make their plan to quit.
Medina Memorial Hospital will have a tobacco cessation resource table set up in the lobby between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. for the Orleans County communities. Wyoming County Partners For Prevention has invited tobacco control specialists from Roswell Park Cancer Institute to provide cessation education to community partners at Valley Chapel Church between 10:30 a.m. and noon.
“Partners For Prevention wants to help the people in our community to be healthy and happy,” said Lydia Dziedzic, Wyoming County Partners For Prevention community educator. “During this year’s Great American Smoke-out, we hope everyone will join us – and encourage their friends, family, and colleagues to join us – in committing or recommitting to year-around, tobacco-free lives.”
