Quitting smoking isn’t easy. It takes time. And a plan. You don’t have to stop smoking in one day. Start with day one. Let the Great American Smokeout event on November 21 be your day to start your journey toward a smoke-free life. You’ll be joining thousands of people who smoke across the country in taking an important step toward a healthier life and reducing your cancer risk. Plus, the American Cancer Society can help you access the resources and support you need to quit.
The Arc of Washington County is proud to participate in the American Cancer Society’s 44th annual Great American Smokeout® event on Thursday, November 21, 2019. We encourage our employees to commit or recommit to healthy, smoke-free lives – not just for a day, but year around.
Most of us know all too well the devastating impact tobacco can have on people’s health. Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States, accounting for 29% of all cancer deaths. Yet, 37.8 million American adults still smoke. The most important thing smokers can do to improve their health is to quit smoking.
At the same time, we know addiction to nicotine in cigarettes is one of the strongest and most deadly addictions one can have. Quitting is hard. It takes commitment and starts with a plan, often takes more than one quit attempt, and requires a lot of support. Getting help through counseling and/or prescription medications can double or triple the chances of quitting successfully. Support is also important and is why The Arc WC wants to ensure that you aware of these free resources available in our area:
- The American Cancer Society at cancer.org/smokeout or 1-800-227-2345 can help you make it through your first day or give reinforcement if you need help staying away from tobacco.
- If your health insurance coverage is provided through The Arc of Washington County, please contact your health care provider or Aetna at 800-962-6842, to take advantage of the Affordable Care Act that requires qualifying medical insurance plans to provide no cost tobacco cessation treatments and medication (ex: nicotine patches or CHANTIX®.) This requirement holds for all ACA-compliant medical plans, so check your coverage even if it isn’t through The Arc WC.
- The Washington County Health Department offers a Tobacco Free for Life Program. Can’t find a class or support group that fits your schedule? Contact Paula Ernst, Community Health Educator, at paula.ernst@maryland.gov to ask about individual counseling.
- Smokefree.gov provides professional assistance to help support the immediate and long-term needs of people trying to quit smoking.
- Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) for coaching, help to make a quit plan, educational materials, and referrals to other resources where you live.
- Text QUIT to 47848S to receive encouragement, advice, and tips to help smokers quit smoking for good from SmokefreeTXT.
- Online help at CDC.gov/Tips includes tips from former smokers and helpful online quit resources.
- Smokefree App. The QuitGuide is a free app that tracks cravings, moods, slips, and smokefree progress to help you understand your smoking patterns and build the skills needed to become and stay smokefree.
During this year’s Great American Smokeout® event, we hope you will join us – and encourage your friends, family and colleagues to join us – in committing or recommitting to a day that could be the start of your journey toward a tobacco-free life.
Great American Smokeout – Local Event and Prize Drawing
The Tobacco Free for Life Program is partnering with The City of Hagerstown, The Herald Mail, Marie Hawse with Hagerstown Hypnosis, the Washington County Public Schools and the Community Free Clinic to provide events and education throughout the community for the Great American Smokeout.
Pledge to go smoke-free for 24 hours and enter for a chance to win! Pledge cards are available in the break room and in the HR lobby in The Arc’s Administration building at 820 Florida Avenue. Or send an email or Carematic message to Janis Williamson in Human Resources that says you will attempt to quit smoking for 24 hours on Thursday, November 21, for the Great American Smokeout. Include your name and contact phone number or email address so that someone from Tobacco Free for Life can follow-up with you.
Everyone who signs a pledge and speaks with a representative from Tobacco Free for Life will go in the drawing for prizes, not just those who are able to quit for the full 24 hours. Get your pledge to Janis no later than November 27.
Giveaways include:
- 4 tickets to Leitersburg Cinemas
- 3 cessation sessions with Hagerstown Hypnosis
- One year membership to Fitness Revolution
- Grand Prize Drawing – Overnight Getaway
For more information, check out the Power Hour event.
The Arc of Washington County is giving out “Quit Kits” to employees and family members to help them meet their quit goal for the Great American Smokeout and beyond. The kits include a “How to Stop Smoking” pocket card with practical tips for becoming and staying tobacco-free, a tobacco use tracker, and several small items to reach for instead of a cigarette. Find kits in the break room or in the HR lobby at 820 Florida Avenue (Administration building) while supplies last.
Support a quitter by wearing your Great American Smokeout® sticker on Thursday, November 21. Stickers will be available that day in Human Resources and the front desk.