Council successfully works to combat tobacco use in county
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WANT to QUIT?? CALL 1-800-QUIT-NOW!!!
For persons who are seeking support in kicking the tobacco habit, a free statewide quitline is just the ticket.
By calling 1-800-784-8669, tobacco users connect with trained counselors.General users receive 4 calls, while pregnant women receive a series of 10 calls befor and after the birth.
They receive a helpful quit packet as well. In addition, the Quitline now offers a free two-week supply of Nicotine Replacement Products.
With free cessation classes, the quitline, and "NRT" products, cost is no longer a prohibitive issue for persons who are seeking help to pursue healthier tobacco-free lifestyles!
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Since
2002, the Tobacco Prevention Council has overseen distribution of
more than $1.5 million in Master Tobacco Settlement funds coming into LaPorte
County. Under this grant, Healthy Communities has been the lead
agency administrating the innovative prevention and cessation projects
of numerous local organizations.
From
July 2009 to June 30, 2011, HCLC is overseeing distribution of $400,000 in Master Settlement Funds coming into the county, granted to nine partners. In addition to focusing on youth prevention
work and the Voice student advocacy effort, in this grant cycle, emphasis is placed
on creating a "network of cessation" to encourage all
smokers to kick the habit. Both hospital systems, HealthLinc and the Community Health Center clinics present "stage of change" tobacco counseling interventions with all patients.
We are pleased to have seen a reduction in our county smoking rate from 30.7 % in 2002, to a current rate of 26 %. But recognizing
that more than a quarter of LaPorte County residents smoke, such efforts
are especially important to the health of our county. We are also very concerned that more than 30% of pregnant women on the Medicaid rolls continue to use tobacco.
For persons
who want to quit smoking, Master Settlement Funds and revenue from
the state cigarette tax are insuring that trained
counseling support and free nicotine replacement products are offered free of charge by calling 1-800-QUITNOW or linking into www.indianaquitline.net. General registrants receive four support calls, while pregnant women benefit from 10 calls - continuing post delivery.
For
more information about cessation classes in the county, call LaPorte Regional Health System Wellness Center
at 326-2480, or Saint Anthony Memorial Cardiac Center at 877-1557.
Also, businesses interested in developing a smoke-free policy may call Healthy Communities at 326-6260.
The Tobacco Prevention Council
will be pleased to offer assistance to any organization, restaurant,
school system or business that wants to pursue a smoke-free environment.
Concentration
on smoke-free environments, and lasting policy change, is a firm
focus of Indiana Tobacco Prevention & Cessation, which is the
state agency providing the umbrella for all tobacco-control efforts
in the state.
Persons
who would like to become involved in the Tobacco Prevention Council's
efforts to pursue a healthier, smoke-free environment for LaPorte
County may also call 326-6260.
And
for more up-to-the-minute information about state tobacco control
efforts, log onto www.voice.tv, www.whitelies.tv
and www.itpc.in.gov.
 Need
support in your quit effort?
Call the FREE statewide quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW or click this link:. Indiana Tobacco Quitline
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