| Quit Smoking Today for Free! |
YORK COUNTY, MAINE - As we wake up each morning we all make many choices throughout the day - how we will behave, what we will choose to do, whether we will make healthy choices or splurge. Some may choose to walk on the treadmill and others may take a day off. Some may choose to eat a big breakfast and others may opt for the fiber-filled bowl of cereal. Some may choose to smoke cigarettes and others may want to quit. Southern Maine Medical Center (SMMC) and Coastal Healthy Communities Coalition have joined forces to help encourage and support this healthy choice!
Imagine smoking two packs of cigarettes a day and quitting after forty years? That is what David Carter chose to do. He had made several previous attempts to quit and knew this would be a decision that would take a lot of work, a lot of support, and that he would need to be emotionally, physically and mentally ready to quit.
David’s decision came when he spent a long weekend at his parent’s house. His vehicle remained closed the whole weekend, and when he got in it to return home he immediately noticed the stagnant smell of cigarettes. He had never noticed it before, but now it made him sick to his stomach on the ride home, and he vowed from that point forward not to smoke in his car ever again. Upon arriving home David called the Maine Tobacco Hotline (800-207-1230), and they sent him a packet with detailed steps to follow. He began his journey by choosing not to smoke in his car, not to smoke at break time or lunchtime and at other identified times throughout the day until he had cut down to a quarter of a pack of cigarettes a day. He then joined the “Be Tobacco Free” program and it was a recipe for success.
“I wanted to quit before a health emergency made the choice for me,” stated Carter. “Each morning I wake up and say, ‘Today I choose not to smoke’ and each evening I say, ‘I made it another day smoke-free.’ In between I enjoy the benefits of improved senses, such as food tasting better and being more aware of smells around me. It is a choice I am thankful I made for myself.”
In addition to the health benefits, David experienced a financial benefit as well. He began placing his weekly allowance for cigarettes into a jar on his kitchen counter to be used as a reward at some point. When he had a craving he would simply go look into the jar and see how much money he had saved, symbolizing the amount of time he had gone without smoking. The reward? David saved enough money to take a trip to Arizona for a week! To date he has been smoke-free for four years and credits the program for his success.
David encourages anyone who would like to quit smoking to take the first step and attend the informal Be Tobacco Free educational sessions. The classes are held four consecutive weeks beginning the first Monday of each month from 5:30 to 6:30pm in the Cardiopulmonary Wellness Center at Southern Maine Medical Center. Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialists facilitate the sessions and will provide all the necessary resources to ensure your success. Pre-registration is preferred by calling 283-7272.
Be Tobacco Free Program
FREE - Four educational sessions beginning the first Monday of each month - 5:30 to 6:30pm
Cardiopulmonary Wellness Center at Southern Maine Medical Center - To pre-register, please call 283-7272
Smoking Statistics – Did You Know?
Tobacco use is the single greatest preventable cause of death and disease in Maine, accounting annually for over 2,200 deaths (one out of every six) and costs our state $602 million annually in direct health care costs alone.
In Maine, each year smoking causes:
83% of deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
14% of deaths from heart disease
80% of lung cancer deaths
29% of all cancers
Second hand smoke is harmful to the nonsmoker and is a serious public health threat.
Southern Maine Medical Center (SMMC) is a national award-winning medical center offering excellent clinical care that is also compassionate and attentive to each patient's individual needs. In conjunction with a medical staff of over 200 highly-skilled physicians, SMMC offers Maine's newest state-of-the-art emergency and fast track care as well as a full range of inpatient and outpatient services at its 150-bed acute care medical center located just off Exit 32 of I-95 in Biddeford. Additionally, SMMC's physician services offer high quality medical care at physician offices located in Biddeford, Kennebunk, Old Orchard Beach, Saco and Sanford; a full range of outpatient services at its diagnostic and therapy centers in Saco, Kennebunk, and Biddeford. SMMC also offers superior home nursing care through affiliate SMMC Visiting Nurses. SMMC is Joint Commission accredited, state-licensed, and a member of MaineHealth. To find a physician associated with SMMC, go to www.smmc.org/medstaff.
|
 Return to the SMMC Visiting Nurses News and Events Index |
|
|
