ALLEN COUNTY, OH (WLIO) - For many people who are smokers, quitting can seem impossible. But there are local and national resources to help guide the path to quitting for good.
The American Cancer Society kicked off the "Great American Smokeout" today (11/16/23) to encourage smokers to start their quit journey and give up their use of tobacco and nicotine products. There are many ways someone can go about their journey to quit and there are multiple resources and outreach programs available to aid folks on their path to better health.
"We obviously understand that quitting tobacco use is very difficult, especially if you do it alone. So we encourage you to reach out and get some free support. There is the 1-800 quit line. If you call 1-800 Quit Now, they'll provide you free resources for anyone throughout the United States. But we also have a great local program established by Mercy Health, it's the Activate Change-QUIT Program. Through that Mercy program, we can provide free local resources and so if you contact Mercy Health they can connect you with that program and get you signed up," said Josh Unterbrink, director of Activate Allen County.
About 34 million American adults still smoke cigarettes and smoking remains the single largest preventable cause of death and illness in the world. Smokers are encouraged to replace the dependence and routine of smoking with exercise or physical activity to help replace the use of tobacco and nicotine. For more details about the Active Change - QUIT program, visit https://activateallencounty.com/wellness-chronic-disease/tobacco-cessation-program/.
