Guest Judy Ochs is the Director of the Division of Tobacco Prevention and Control at the Pennsylvania Department of Health. She was once a smoker herself and knows how hard it is to quit. But she says about quitting, "Whatever it takes, you should do." After trying several methods of quitting, she says "Suddenly you're in control when you figure out what works best for you."
She says that a combination of coaching with nicotine replacement therapy (patch) doubles a person's quitting success. Many make New Year's Resolutions to quit, but now it's February and lots of people have not kept that resolution. Judy says the Quit for Love Campaign is not about just quitting for the one you love, but it's about loving yourself enough to be healthy.
This program offers up to 5 free one-on-one coaching sessions and free patches are mailed to you. She is confident in the program, stating, "I know it works and am so pleased that people in PA have this opportunity. It's never too late. You will still have a positive impact on your body."
Free nicotine replacement therapy kits will distributed as part of the campaign. More information about how to quit smoking can be found by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) or online.
Listen to the program:
Learn more about lung cancer and stigmas at the links below (referenced in program):
Does lung cancer have a stigma attached to it?
Smoking effects: Lung cancer and the stigma of smoking
Why quit smoking?
1. In addition to lung cancer, smoking causes many other types of cancer, including cancers of the throat, mouth, nasal cavity, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, kidney, bladder, and cervix, and acute myeloid leukemia. (*From cancer.gov)
2. People who smoke are up to six times more likely to suffer a heart attack than nonsmokers, and the risk increases with the number of cigarettes smoked. Smoking also causes most cases of chronic lung disease. (*From cancer.gov)
3. Save money! Calculate just how much can be saved here!
4. If you knew what was in a cigarette, you’d think twice:
- Acetone – found in nail polish remover
- Acetic Acid – an ingredient in hair dye
- Ammonia – a common household cleaner
- Arsenic – used in rat poison
- Benzene – found in rubber cement
- Butane – used in lighter fluid
- Cadmium – active component in battery acid
- Carbon Monoxide – released in car exhaust fumes
- Formaldehyde – embalming fluid
- Hexamine – found in barbecue lighter fluid
- Lead – used in batteries
- Napthalene – an ingredient in moth balls
- Methanol – a main component in rocket fuel
- Nicotine – used as insecticide
- Tar – material for paving roads
- Toluene - used to manufacture paint
5. Answers to 7 important smoking questions from Lancaster General Health
6. Find out why smoking is a major health risk
7. Check out what Dr. Oyer from Lancaster General Health has to say about smoking in this video "Are you kidding? You still smoke?"
