Great American Smoke Out - Start Fresh and Quit Tobacco!

First of a five part series

The Great American Smoke Out (GASO) is Thursday, November 16, and BreatheWell Newaygo County, along with the Headway Coalition and Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial, are going all out to help people quit smoking once and for all!
GASO is an annual American Cancer Society event that inspires thousands of people to quit for the day or quit for good. By quitting tobacco and nicotine use, even for 1 day, smokers will be taking an important step toward a healthier life and reducing their cancer risk.

“The Great American Smoke Out is the perfect time to make a plan and get the help you need to quit smoking, stop vaping, or be through with chew,” says Sally Wagoner, RN and Tobacco Treatment Specialist at Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial and Chairperson of BreatheWell Newaygo County. “BreatheWell will be hosting several planning events before November 16 to get people ready to take this giant step toward a healthy tobacco free life.”

Tobacco continues to be the single largest preventable cause of chronic disease and premature death in the world. Tobacco and nicotine use, whether from cigarettes, cigars or smokeless tobacco like chew and snus, all cause dozens of kinds of cancer, lung disease, heart attacks, circulation problems and even gum disease, cavities and tooth loss.  

“Most people who successfully quit tobacco get support from a specialist who has been trained in how to help people break their nicotine addiction and smoking routines. The GASO Start Fresh planning events will help people learn about the best medications, nicotine replacement products, tools and professional help so this time they can quit for good,” added Ms. Wagoner.

People interested in learning more about quitting tobacco, chew or vaping are encouraged to attend one of the free “Great American Smoke Out- Start Fresh” programs in November. Those who attend will receive a free “Tobacco Quit Kit” which will include information on how to quit for the day or quit for good on November 16, Great American Smoke Out, along with resources about local classes and coaching programs.
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“The free ‘Start Fresh’ program  is a great way to get all the information you need to help you quit when you are ready, even if it is not on the Great American Smoke Out day itself,” said Sally Wagoner, RN.

The free GASO Start Fresh Programs will be held:

Wednesday, November 1, from 6 p.m.  - 6:30pm at Family Health Care in Grant.
Saturday, November 4, from 9 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.; and then at 12 noon - 12:30pm at The Stream in Newaygo.
Tuesday, November 7, from 6 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. at Hesperia Library.
Thursday, November 9, from 6 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. at Family Health Care in White Cloud.

Registration is not needed to attend. For more information about these programs, call Sally Wagoner, RN at 231.924.7589, or email: breathewellnewaygo@gmail.com.

Next week: Part 2 of 5 – SCRIPT: A Program to Help Pregnant and New Moms Quit Smoking