World No Tobacco Day challenges smokers to quit

Thursday, May 28, 2009
Mayor Sue Murray reads and signs a proclamation declaring Sunday as World No Tobacco Day with Putnam County Tobacco Prevention and Cessation program director Meredith Williams. To celebrate No Tobacco Day, cigarette butt clean-up days have been scheduled.

World No Tobacco day is recognized and organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) every year, usually in May. This year, May 31, 2009 is observed as World No Tobacco Day. The theme is "Tobacco Health Warnings."

Tobacco Health Warnings appear on packs of cigarettes and are among the strongest defenses against the global epidemic of tobacco.

WHO particularly approves of tobacco health warnings that contain both pictures and words because they are the most effective at convincing people to quit. Unfortunately, for now, pictorial warnings do not appear on cigarettes in the United States.

It is estimated that 1 billion men, women and children's lives will be threaten by tobacco this century.

The City of Greencastle and the Putnam County community have a great opportunity to make a difference in the lives of its citizens. By passing a local smoke free air law, the City of Greencastle is ensuring protection from secondhand smoke to those living and working in this community.

The goals of no tobacco day are to bring awareness to this deadly addiction and encourage those who want to quit using tobacco by seeking help. The 1-800-QUITNOW line is available everyday free of charge to tobacco users.

They may call and speak with a quit coach any time day or night. These quit coaches will provide over the phone counseling (up to 4 sessions for tobacco users and up to 10 sessions for pregnant tobacco users), free of charge to any caller. They may also qualify for free nicotine replacement therapy while supplies last.

Putnam County Tobacco Prevention also hosts Fresh Start Cessation classes every Wednesday night from 6 to 7 p.m. on the third floor of Putnam County Hospital and also offers free nicotine replacement patches compliments of the Putnam County Health Department.

Putnam County Tobacco Prevention encourages tobacco users to use this day as the start of a new tobacco free life.

For more information, contact Meredith Williams, program coordinator, Putnam County Tobacco Prevention at 655-2697 or pctobacco@gmail.com.

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  • Why would our government want us to quit smoking? They collect trillions of tax dollars off of cigerattes. Stores would lose money, doctors and drug companys would miss out, Hospitals who care for lung cancer patients and even funeral homes who bury these people would be missing out. Cigerattes are a huge cash cow. Im not buying into these tobacco prevention programs, they are nothing more then to deter people from the truth!

    -- Posted by 1stamendrights on Fri, May 29, 2009, at 4:31 PM
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