Alachua County, FL —
Quit Season is upon us! The New Year brings with it a season of
self-improvement and an opportunity to get healthy. According to the Center for
Disease Control, tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death and
disability in the world. Studies also show that 7 out of 10 smokers in the U.S.
want to quit smoking
1.
Did you know that those who develop a quit
plan are more likely to follow through, as well as have a higher chance of not
picking it back up2?
What you can do to prepare for this new lifestyle choice:
- Choose a quit day. January 1st is a
great option!
- Let your loved ones know that you are quitting
so they can support you.
- List out the reasons that you decided to quit,
to refer to when it gets hard.
- Find out what your ‘triggers’ are so that you
can avoid them.
- Know the free resources available to help you through
the process.
This past year, Williams Temple Church of God in Christ (COGIC)
became the first church in Gainesville to have a 100% tobacco free policy, becoming
one of the many tobacco free worksites in Alachua County. They will be helping
their congregation and this community prepare for Quit Season by hosting group
cessation courses through Suwannee River AHEC on Thursday, December 20th
from 1pm-3pm. These classes will be open to the public and you can register by
calling toll free (866) 341-2730.
Quitting is hard. It takes determination, commitment, and
support, but there are many FREE resources available for you to prepare for the
New Year! You can call 1-877-U-CAN-NOW (1-877-777-6534) for free nicotine
replacement therapy options. You can also visit
www.tobaccofreeflorida.com/quityourway to access more quit tools.
If your community or business
is interested in going tobacco free, contact Tobacco Free Alachua at (352) 334-7914
or tobaccofreealachua@flhealth.gov.
About the Florida Department of Health -The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to
protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through
integrated state, county and community efforts. Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more
information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.
About Tobacco Free Alachua - Tobacco Free
Alachua is a diverse community partnership of concerned citizens, local
non-profits, businesses, and health advocates who work to reduce the use and
effects of tobacco in Alachua County, FL. The partnership was established in
2008 and is supported by the Florida Department of Health in Alachua County.
Learn more at facebook.com/tobaccofreealachua
1 - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Quitting Smoking Among Adults—United States, 2000–2015. Morbidity and Mortality
Weekly Report 2017;65(52):1457-64.
2 - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ring
in 2018 Smokefree, 2018. CDC Features- Healthy Living 2018; https://www.cdc.gov/features/smokingcessation/index.html