Tobacco Cessation
There is no other better time than NOW to try and quit tobacco!
Tobacco use is the number one preventable cause of death in the United States. Tobacco use kills over 440,000 Americans annually, including 800 deaths per year in the state of Oregon and 83 deaths in Clatsop County.
In 1992, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classified secondhand smoke as a “Group A” carcinogen. This means that there is no safe level of exposure. Secondhand smoke is a mixture of the smoke produced by the burning end of a cigarette, pipe or cigar and the smoke exhaled from the lungs of smokers. Tobacco smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals; more than 60 of them known to cause cancer. Approximately 53,000 Americans die every year due to secondhand smoke.
Please be aware that spit tobacco is not a safe alternative to smoking. Although the spit tobacco industry would like us to think that it is a safe alternative there are many harmful effects from the use of spit tobacco. Some of them include cancer of the mouth and pharynx, leukoplakia (white sores in the mouth that can lead to cancer), gum recession or peeling back of the gums, bone loss around the teeth, teeth abrasion and bad breath.
If you or someone you know wants to quit tobacco use and/or you want more educational and tobacco cessation materials or resources, do not hesitate to contact:
Location
Main Campus - North Entrance
Contact Information:
Alissa Dorman - Tobacco Cessaion Coordinator
503-325-4321 x6564
Web Resources links
www.oregonquitline.org Developed to provide Oregon residents with free cessation assistance and resource information through one on one telephone counseling and referrals for you or your loved one.
www.quittobacco.org Developed by Group Health Cooperative, an HMO in Seattle, WA. Information is from the Free and Clear Smoking Cessation Program. Has lots of helpful links to tips that help you quit and stay quit. Also includes a calculator to determine how much your smoking costs you based on how much you smoke. On-line discussion group called Quit Talk.
www.cdc.gov/tobacco Sponsored by the Federal Government. Has links to information and quit sites.
www.quitnet.com Operates in association with Boston University. There are two levels of membership: Premium, which requires a modest fee and Basic for which free registration is required. You can create your own quit plan, ask questions of expert counselors, and get on-line support when you need it. A small amount of information is available even before you register.
www.committedquitters.com Sponsored by Nicorette and designed to help cigarette smokers quit if they are using Nicotine Replacement Patch or Gum. Has helpful information related to pre-quitting including surveys on “Why I Smoke” and Nicotine Dependency Test. Worth a visit for general information.
www.lungusa.org/tobacco Links to 24-hour Freedom From Smoking (below).
www.ffsonline.org Gives you an overview of their seven-module smoking cessation program, then asks you to register to use the service. Registration requires that you give your name, address, e-mail address, gender, and you have to answer 8 questions about your smoking.
www.nicotine-anonymous.org Give you general information about the organization, including the closest Nicotine Anonymous groups in Portland.
www.quitsmokeless.org A privately sponsored site that requires registration early in the visit, but unique in that it focuses on smokeless tobacco.
www.zapbac.com For young adults and teens, this site is sponsored by Tualatin Valley Centers. Gives updated information on why Oregon youth quit tobacco, tobacco advertising, tobacco facts, tobacco and sports, and much more.
www.thetruth.com Main goal is to alert everyone to the lies and hidden practices of the cigarette companies so that people have more information to make their own decisions.
These WEB sources are for your pursuit and cannot be guaranteed or endorsed by Columbia Memorial Hospital. Many contain links to additional sites that may be of interest or help to you.
To obtain more information about how you can help other Oregonians be Tobacco Free, contact www.tobaccofreeoregon.org.