The Great American Smokeout is Nov. 16

Greater Falls Connections and Springfield Medical Care Systems are proud to announce that Thursday, Nov. 16, is the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout. Their quit classes are free and you can also receive free or reduced nicotine patches, gum and lozenges from 802Quits.

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Every year, on the third Thursday of November, smokers across the nation take part in the American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout event. Encourage someone you know to use the date to make a plan to quit, or plan in advance and then quit smoking that day. By quitting – even for 1 day – smokers will be taking an important step toward a healthier life and reducing their cancer risk.

Why We Need the Great American Smokeout

About 36.5 million Americans still smoke cigarettes, and tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the world. While cigarette smoking rates have dropped (from 42% in 1965 to 15.1% in 2015), cigar, pipe, and hookah – other dangerous and addictive ways to smoke tobacco – are very much on the rise. Smoking kills people – there’s no “safe” way to smoke tobacco.

Quitting smoking has immediate and long-term benefits at any age. Quitting is hard, but you can increase your chances of success with help. Getting help through counseling or medications can double or triple the chances of quitting successfully.

Group quit classes and individual tobacco cessation counseling are available at the Springfield Health Center. Call Sarah Doyle at (802) 886-8946 or send an email to sdoyle@springfieldmed.org to sign up.

The Great American Smokeout is Nov. 16Free Access | November 10, 2017 BELLOWS FALLS — Greater Falls Connections and Springfield Medical Care Systems are proud to announce that Thursday, Nov. 16, is the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout. Tobacco is very addictive, and quitting is hard. Support can make all the difference, and there are a variety of options available. Group quit classes and individual tobacco cessation counseling are available at Rockingham Medical Group and at the Springfield Health Center. In the Bellows Falls area, call Scott Belt at (802) 463-9000 ext. 2724 or send an email to sbelt@springfieldmed.org to sign up. In the Springfield area, call Sarah Doyle at (802) 886-8946 or send an email to sdoyle@springfieldmed.org to sign up. The quit classes are free and you can also receive free or reduced nicotine patches, gum and lozenges from 802Quits. Employers and community organizations can have free classes brought to their location if they have 10 or more people that would like to create a cessation group. The chances of quitting smoking increase with a plan. Some tips include setting a quit date, making a list of reasons to quit, and making a list of friends who can provide support. Vermont’s 802Quits program provides a number of additional supports for those looking to quit smoking. 802Quits provides free nicotine replacement therapy. Help can be accessed by phone at 1-800-QUIT-NOW or online at www.802quits.org. Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the US, yet about 40 million Americans still smoke cigarettes. In Vermont, about 95,000 people smoke cigarettes and 800 people die each year from tobacco-related diseases. The American Cancer Society marks the Great American Smokeout on the third Thursday of November each year by encouraging smokers to use the date to make a plan to quit, or to plan in advance and quit smoking that day.