| Overview
of Freshstart | Why quit now
| How is Freshstart unique
| What will happen to me
in Freshstart |
| Tobacco related facts |
For more information |
Related links | Community Health Home |
Freshstart is the American Cancer Society’s quit smoking program. It consists of four one-hour sessions held over the course of four weeks. All the methods and activities contain the most effective elements for success. Freshstart can be your start to a new life without cigarettes.
Anyone who desires to quit tobacco products is welcome to attend. It is requested that the participants be at least 18 years of age, because of the availability of other programs that meet the needs of younger tobacco users that wish to quit.You can sign up by calling 1-800-843-3375 or by contacting one of the instructors, who are ex-smokers themselves.
There is no cost to participate in the program.
New classes begin the first Thursday of each month. One class is led by Hank Boerner at the Wellness Center in Tupelo at noon. The other is led by Tonya Gentry at Barnes Crossing Urgent Care at 6 p.m. You can reach Hank Boerner at 377-4141 or Tonya Gentry at 377-7264.
Why quit now? You already know that smoking increases your chances of developing emphysema, heart disease and lung and other cancers. It is a scientific fact that quitting smoking, no matter how long you have been smoking, does decrease your risk of smoking-related diseases by almost half. People who quit smoking experience improved cardiovascular function which means lower blood pressure and more energy. They also enjoy a renewed sense of taste and smell.
It is a program that is designed for you, the adult smoker — there are no gimmicks, quick fixes, meaningless group activities or busywork. Freshstart makes maximum use of the smoker’s time. The format is convenient for most people’s schedules, even in the workplace. While Freshstart uses group interaction to support quitting goals, individual situations are given more attention than group process. Freshstart addresses a variety of reasons people smoke: physical addiction, habit and psychological dependency. The main goal of the program is to quit smoking, which is maintained by techniques and support to keep a smoker off cigarettes.
What will happen to me in Freshstart?
The program emphasizes that smoking cessation is a two-part process:
1. Quitting
2. Staying quit. Because we all differ as to which part is most difficult, Freshstart addresses both processes. Your instructor will begin each meeting by asking for questions or reactions from individuals or groups. Quitting cold turkey, use of the nicotine patch, fighting urges to smoke, addressing physical symptoms of withdrawal from smoking, and highlighting all of the benefits of not smoking are completely discussed throughout the program. Freshstart will give you concrete ways to handle two major issues for many ex-smokers: weight control and stress management. You will have materials for you to review and use at meetings and at home. Throughout the program, it is emphasized that you are the key to your own fresh start. Freshstart gives you tools to use while you quit smoking.Tobacco Related Facts Every 10 seconds, somewhere in the world, someone dies from a tobacco-related illness.
In as little as 20 minutes, the body begins to repair itself, which will continue for years.
More than 400,000 people die of tobacco-related illnesses in the United States every year — more than from AIDS, car crashes, alcohol, suicides, homicides, fire and illegal drugs combined.
Tobacco products are the only legal consumer products that are harmful when used exactly as the manufacturer intended.
Smoking is responsible for 7 percent of United States health care costs.
For more information The Tobacco Quitline is staffed from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Tobacco Quitline is a telephone counseling, information and tips line for anyone interested in stopping tobacco use.
The Tobacco Quitline will be the fifth of its type started in the United States. The training protocol is patterned after the one used for the California Smoker’s Helpline which has been in operation 10 years. The Quitline has the distinction of starting out with master’s level, licensed counselors and social workers on board, with a wealth of mental health experience among them. They have all been trained with the behavior change model for tobacco cessation and are ready to help Mississippians release themselves from the grip of tobacco.
While not a crisis line, the counselors will be available during the staffing hours to take a person through the many levels and decisions needed to beat the habit. Follow up contacts are scheduled and continued counseling is available up to six weeks after the designated "quit date".
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