Kevin Lusk
The advent of Spring brings a time of fresh starts and new beginnings, and what better time to make the decision to quit smoking?
Smoking is a serious problem in Chattanooga and across our state. The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention report that nearly 17 percent of adult Americans smoke or use tobacco products regularly. In Tennessee, that number increases significantly to nearly 25 percent of adults – that’s one out of every four – that report regular use of tobacco products.
It’s hard to quit smoking. The good news is that the TennCare Bureau recently removed the monthly cap on smoking cessation medication to make it easier for more Tennesseans to quit. These prescription and over-the-counter quit aids no longer count against the monthly five-prescription or two-brand limit for eligible Tennesseans. There are also more smokers enrolled in TennCare than in the general state population with 28 percent smoking or using tobacco daily.
We all know that smoking and tobacco use is bad for us, but we might not fully realize how harmful it can be. For example, tobacco use has been linked to lung cancer, chronic heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, birth defects and more. It also increases the risk of other types of cancer including mouth, stomach, kidney, uterus, cervix, ovaries and colon.
Quitting tobacco can stop or even reverse many of the harmful effects of past tobacco use. Quitting is not only good for your health but for those in your life – your family, friends and co-workers – that suffer the effects of secondhand smoke whether they choose to use tobacco or not. Exposure to secondhand smoke causes heart disease, ear infections, asthma, and lung cancer, even in people who have never smoked.
Earlier this year, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network partnered with the Tennessee Department of Health to raise awareness about the impact of tobacco use and encourage Tennesseans to quit during Tennessee Quit Week. Let’s continue to celebrate Tennesseans who have successfully quit tobacco and work to encourage more people to join them.
If you or someone you know needs help quitting, there are numerous free resources available through various employer-sponsored wellness programs, county public health departments and local health care institutions. You may call the Quit for Life program at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) to speak with a counselor who will help you assess your addiction and help you create a quit plan. Smokers may also receive free FDA-approved nicotine replacement therapy.
It’s time for more Tennesseans to make the lifesaving decision to give up tobacco, so I encourage you to quit tobacco or to help someone close to you quit. It can be a new beginning for a healthier life.
Kevin Lusk, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network volunteer and Chair, Tobacco Free Chattanooga