Tobacco cessation classes start Sept. 9

McCOOK, Nebraska--As part of their new tobacco cessation services, Community Hospital is offering the "Quit Smoking Now" group tobacco cessation program for the public. The classes begin September 9 and consist of six, one-hour sessions in a small group setting from September through October 14. All classes on are Mondays from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Community Hospital's Prairie View B meeting room. Cost of the program is only $30, which covers the cost of materials. Space is limited, so call Respiratory Therapy at 308-344-8387 by Wednesday, September 4 to register.

Tobacco cessation includes all tobacco products, not just cigarettes. The list includes, but is not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco products, pipes, as well as many other tobacco forms.

The Quit Smoking Now program is facilitated by three Tobacco Treatment Specialists who are also Registered Respiratory Therapists. Chris Carfield, Kim Kuykendall and Jessica Meyer received Tobacco Treatment Specialist training last year.

A tobacco specialist is a professional who possesses the skills, knowledge, and training to provide effective, evidence-based interventions for tobacco dependence across a range of intensities. "Evidence shows the most effective approach to tobacco cessation is a multi-channeled approach which includes nicotine replacement therapy and tobacco cessation counseling," according to Carfield. "Participants will be given the information and materials needed to help them succeed in quitting," she added.

The Quit Smoking Now program can also be presented to groups of employees at businesses. Interested employers should call Community Hospital's Respiratory Therapy department.

In the United States it is estimated that 23 percent of the adult population uses some form of tobacco. This equates to more than 40 million people. Fifty percent of these users will die from a tobacco related illness. Cigarette smoke contains more than 4,800 chemicals, of which 70 are known to cause cancer. It causes more than 90 percent of lung cancer deaths and 80 to 90 percent of COPD deaths. For every death caused by smoking, more than 20 others are affected with some sort of serious illness. Every day, 1,200 people die from a smoking related illness.

The list of diseases caused by smoking includes emphysema, chronic bronchitis, coronary artery disease, stroke, abdominal aortic aneurysm, leukemia, cataracts, pneumonia, periodontitis, and cancers of the throat, bladder, esophageal, laryngeal, lung, oral, kidney, cervix, stomach, and pancreas. It also causes slow wound healing, infertility, and peptic ulcer disease, as well as premature births to pregnant smoking mothers. The list goes on, and includes every organ of the body. These startling facts have led Community Hospital to take a pro-active approach in tobacco cessation.

The Quit Smoking Now classes are part of a new tobacco cessation program developed by Community Hospital which also offers services for inpatients and outpatients.

Inpatients

When admitted, inpatients are asked if they have used a tobacco product within the past 12 months. A "yes" answer will initiate an order from the physician to start the tobacco cessation protocol. This protocol includes nicotine replacement therapy, as well as some one-on-one counseling with a Tobacco Treatment Specialist. After the patient is dismissed, they are given the option of scheduling a follow-up appointment with one of Community Hospital's Tobacco Treatment Specialists. Research has shown that tobacco cessation counseling improves the patient's success at quitting.

Outpatients

A physician may also order the tobacco cessation protocol for a person on an outpatient basis. After the patient receives an order from their physician, a one-on-one counseling session to establish an individualized plan of tobacco cessation can be scheduled with a Tobacco Treatment Specialist. "There are numerous strategies to help people to achieve this goal and the specialist's job is to help the individual find the one that will work for them," Carfield said. Some insurance companies cover smoking cessation services.