FREEDOM FROM SMOKING INFORMATIONAL SESSION How to Quit Tobacco Presented by Laura Frick, MSW Health Promotions Coordinator American Lung Association of the Plains-Gulf Region
AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION Mission To save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. Vision A world free from lung disease. The Lung Health Crisis Lung disease: 3 rd leading cause of death in the U.S., responsible for 1in 7 deaths. Lung cancer: leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. Asthma: number one chronic disease of children. COPD: affects the lives of 10.2 million Americans. Air Pollution: more than 60% of Americans breathe unhealthy air each day. These are the facts. The crisis is real.
WHAT WE LL DISCUSS About Quitting Available Help
ABOUT QUITTING Most tobacco users today know: It s bad for their health Smoke is harmful to others They know they should quit but they also know it's going to be hard
WHY QUIT? For your health! According to the Surgeon General, quitting smoking is the single most important step a smoker can take to improve the length and quality of life It's best to quit early in life but even someone who quits later will improve their health
WHY QUIT? To save money! It's getting more expensive to smoke cigarettes Cigarette taxes continue to go up Even if a pack costs "only" $5.00 where you live, smoking one pack per day adds up to $1,825.00 each year
WHY QUIT? To save the aggravation! It's less convenient to smoke More states and cities are passing clean indoor air laws that make it illegal to smoke inside Is standing in the cold and the rain really worth having that cigarette?
WHY QUIT? It's good for the people around you! Cigarette smoke is harmful to everyone who inhales it Kids who live with smokers get more colds and ear infections Babies born to mothers who smoke have an increased risk of premature delivery, low birth weight and (SIDS)
WHY QUIT? Both you & the people in your life will breathe easier! Ex-smokers don't have the scent of smoke on clothes and hair, and their homes don't smell like cigarettes Better breathing can mean better sleep at your house
WHY QUIT? Life is just better as a nonsmoker! Smoking interferes with senses of taste & smell You'll be able to make it through a long movie or an airplane flight without craving a cigarette Within a few weeks after quitting, your smoker's cough will disappear and you'll have more energy
WHEN YOU QUIT In the first 3 months Easier breathing Better circulation Increased lung function Easier physical exercise Food tastes better In the 9 months Coughing/shortness of breath decreases Energy increases Less mucus, fewer infections
WHEN YOU QUIT After 2 years Risk of coronary heart disease half that of a smoker Heart attack risk drops to near normal After 5 years Lung cancer death rate reduces by half Stroke risk reduced Risk of mouth, throat and esophageal cancer half that of smoker
HELP IS AVAILABLE The ALA offers resources to help smokers: Figure out their reasons for quitting Take the big step of quitting for good If you re thinking of quitting, you ve taken the first step to quitting for good- Congratulations!
CESSATION SERVICES The ALA s Freedom from Smoking (FFS) program is for adults that are ready to quit smoking This program focuses on how to quit, not why FFS offers 4 options for cessation: Freedom From Smoking Group Clinic Freedom From Smoking Online Freedom From Smoking Lung Helpline Freedom from Smoking Self-Help Manual
FFS GROUP CLINIC FFS consists of 8 sessions Each lasts about 1.5 hours Sessions are typically 1x/week Quit Day is on the 4 th session
FFS GROUP CLINIC Sessions are lead by a certified Facilitator You ll meet with a small group of people (typically 5-10 people) You get personal attention You create your own quit plan The group can provide support, tips, and stories
WHAT TOPICS ARE COVERED? You ll receive a Participant Workbook Knowing if You re Ready to Quit Medicines to Help You Lifestyle Changes that Make Quitting Easier Preparing for Quit Day Coping Strategies Managing Stress Avoiding Weight Gain Developing a New Self-Image How to Stay Smoke-Free for Good
THE FFS APPROACH A systematic approach to quitting Behavior change is a process FFS guides individuals through this process step by step Smokers develop a plan of action leading up to quit day Smokers get the support they need to remain smoke-free
THE FFS APPROACH A scientific behavior-based methodology Based on the latest addiction and behavior change models Addresses the difficulties of quitting with a sensitive, supportive style The ultimate goal is to encourage individuals to overcome their addiction and enjoy the benefits of better health
WHY FREEDOM FROM SMOKING? It s simple: Freedom From Smoking works! When used in combination with smoking cessation medications, up to 60% of participants report having quit by the end of the program FFS generates higher quit rates than people who try to quit on their own 25% of participants report not smoking 1 year after the program, while only 5% of people who quit cold turkey remain nonsmokers after 1 year
WHY FREEDOM FROM SMOKING? Customizable with a wide range of options The choice of leading employers, hospitals and health plans for 30 years Proven effective at helping people quit for good Ranked most effective smoking cessation program in a study of 100 managed care organizations conducted by Fordham University Graduate School of Business
MORE ABOUT FFS Conforms to smoking cessation counseling or advice core measure of the Joint Commission for the quality of care for acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, & pneumonia Clinic program meets criteria for intensive tobacco cessation counseling covered by the latest Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS) Decision Includes all components of an intensive intervention as outlined in the United States Department of Health and Human Services Clinical Practice Guideline Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence
OTHER OPTIONS
FFS ONLINE FFSO offers 24-hour access to modules that guide the smoker through the entire quitting process Support is available through message boards, blogs and other social networking tools. Smokers can log on to www.ffsonline.org to get started.
LUNG HELPLINE Call 1-800-LUNGUSA to receive free information about lung health issues and quit smoking tips Inbound and outbound smoking cessation counseling services are also available Calls answered by Registered Nurses, Respiratory Therapists, and Quit-Smoking Specialists
FFS SELF-HELP MANUAL The manual provides information that will help motivate smokers to quit It is in a workbook format and allows smokers to personalize the information based on their needs This can be used as a cessation tool on its own, but is often used in conjunction with other FFS options
COMBINING OPTIONS Participants can use the group clinic by itself or in conjunction with: Freedom From Smoking self-help manual Lung HelpLine (1-800-LUNG-USA) Freedom From Smoking Online
SUMMARY FFS Participants: Experience immediate health benefits Address the physical, mental, & social aspects of addiction Are 6X more likely to be smoke-free one year later than those who quit on their own When used in combination with smoking cessation medication, up to 60% of participants report having quit smoking by the end of the program
TIPS The average smoker tries to quit 5-9 times before permanent success; each attempt gets you closer Combining medications with a program doubles your chance of success FFS can be used for any kind of tobacco addiction (chew, dip, etc.) Materials are in English & Spanish
MEDICATIONS TO HELP YOU QUIT Nicotine replacement therapy Patch Gum Nasal spray (prescription only) Inhalers (prescription only) Lozenges Medications Bupropion (Zyban) (prescription only) Varenicline (Chantix) (prescription only)
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT FFS "I tried to stop smoking one hundred times. I'd quit for a month then start again. I'd quit for two months, then start again. I was a pack-and-a-half per day smoker. Then my son got married and had a son, and I didn't want my grandson to see this. Also, my health was going downhill and I got really scared."
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT FFS What helped me quit was knowing that the minute I craved for a cigarette, I was prepared. Plus knowing how much I smoked by doing Pack Tracks was a pain in the butt, excuse me, but it really helped! The other big thing was the group support. I never felt alone when I was quitting. I tried everything to quit before - I wish I had gone through [Freedom From Smoking] sooner.
READY TO SIGN UP? Clinic: Let your wellness consultant know FFS Online: Sign up online at ffsonline.org Helpline: Call 1-800-LUNGUSA Manual: Let me know
QUESTIONS?
OUR CREDO We will breathe easier when the air in every American community is clean and healthy. We will breathe easier when people are free from the addictive grip of tobacco and the debilitating effects of lung disease. We will breathe easier when the air in our public spaces and workplaces is clear of secondhand smoke. We will breathe easier when children no longer battle airborne poisons or fear an asthma attack. Until then, we are fighting for air.
Thank You! Laura Frick (314)645-5505, ext. 1014 LFrick@breathehealthy.org