American Cancer Society’s annual Great American Smokeout

In honor of the American Cancer Society’s annual Great American Smokeout, Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) is encouraging people who use tobacco to quit for the day or quit for life on Thursday, November 17, 2016.

Regardless of the length of time a person has used tobacco, quitting is possible and worth it. Quitting can take practice, which is why quitting for just one day on the Great American Smokeout can get you closer to being tobacco-free for life. Even if it takes more than one attempt to quit for good, the chances of success increase with each attempt. Just remember, it is never too late to quit, and the body begins to heal as quickly as 20 minutes after quitting.

If you or someone you care about is interested in being tobacco-free for the Great American Smokeout on November 17, 2016, preparing for the day in advance increases the chances of success. JCPH recommends using this nine day quit guide to help prepare to quit for the day or quit for life.

For additional support with quitting tobacco, consider using some of the following resources:

• Call the Colorado QuitLine at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) or visit www.coquitline.org.
• The Wellness Now program at Jefferson Center for Mental Health offers low-cost classes on a variety of topics including quitting tobacco. For more information, visit www.jcmh.org/wellness/. 
• Attend a free tobacco cessation group hosted by Lutheran Medical Center in Wheat Ridge on Tuesdays at 12:00 pm or 5:30 pm. This is a six week drop-in group that provides adults who want to quit smoking with tools and support to achieve their goals. (You do not need to attend all six weeks in order to participate.)
• Visit the Thinking of Quitting page on the Tobacco-Free Jeffco Website. 
• Visit www.tobaccofreeco.org for additional information about secondhand smoke, Colorado tobacco laws, and resources to help with breaking free from tobacco addiction. 

Jefferson County Public Health continues to work toward reducing the toll of tobacco in our communities through sustainable solutions to the problem of tobacco use and exposure. To learn more about current initiatives and how to get involved, visit www.tobaccofreejeffco.com, email tobaccofree@jeffco.us, or call 303-275-7555.