Support Available for Smokers Trying to Quit
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"I don't consider myself a horrible smoker, more a part-time smoker," said Morris, who has been smoking since at least high school. "But still, it's not good."
The two were among a number of hospital employees who stopped to talk with Jennifer Civello, tobacco treatment coordinator for Northern Berkshire Healthcare's Reach Community Health Foundation.
Civello set up shop in the hospital's lobby on Thursday as part of the American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout, held annually on the third Thursday in November. The day encourages smokers to quit for at least 24 hours as a way to show they can quit for good.
"I had one woman who was waiting for me at 10 of 10 [this morning]," said Civello, who was offering information brochures and "quit kits" full of gum, candy, healthy snacks and stress-reliever toys from 10 to 2 p.m. today.
 Photos by Tammy Daniels/iBerkshires.com
Hospital employees Danielle Serrano, left, and Emily Morris look through 'how to quit' brochures in NARH's lobby. Above, Morris talks with tobacco treatment coordinator Jennifer Civello. |
In addition, a grant from the state Department of Public Health supports the Quitlinks program, which targets women of childbearing years through free one-on-one sessions.
According to the American Cancer Society, nearly half the nation's 45.3 million smokers have tried to quit for at least one day in the past year. Smoking accounts for an estimated 438,000 premature deaths, including 38,000 deaths among nonsmokers as a result of secondhand smoke. Half of all Americans who continue to smoke will die from smoking-related diseases.
Quitting isn't easy. "It's definitely really a work in progress," said Civello. "The average person makes seven attempts before they're actually successful, so we may be a stop in the continuum of change. We have people who are repeat offenders in our class."
More and more places are limiting or prohibiting smoking and Northern Berkshire Healthcare's facilities will be going completely smoke-free on Jan. 5.
"It's the best thing we can do to promote healthy behaviors among our employees and visitors and patients," said Civello. The health-care system is offering employees trying to quit up to $150 in nicotine replacement products to support their efforts. "We're a huge employer in North Berkshire so it's a lot of our employees we're hoping take the plunge."
 A 'quit kit' offered by Reach Community Health Foundation. |
"I help people find whatever method assists them in quitting and what is cost-effective because people are going to be less likely to make the attempt if it's going to cost them a lot of money," said Civello.
Smokers can contact their local health system for information on programs; the American Cancer Society also offers counseling through its Quitline at 1-800-227-2345 and desktop helpers for Windows users to fight cravings, like a countdown calendar.
For more information about North Berkshire programs or to make an appointment, call Civello at 413-664-5567 or stop in the hospital's lobby before 2 today.
