Opportunities abound to participate in the Great American Smokeout

Letter to the Editor,

The American Cancer Society is celebrating the Great American Smokeout, this week, Nov. 11 to 17.  

Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death.  Please stop and consider how tobacco addiction has affected your life and the lives of your family and friends, be it a loss of finances, death from lung cancer or heart disease or the premature passing of a loved one.  

The diseases caused by tobacco addiction are still the leading causes of death in America and in Montana, claiming the lives of an average of four Montanans each day.  

Tobacco addiction complicates many other serious chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, asthma, asbestosis and mental illness.  

The Montana Tobacco Quit Line is now offering combination Nicotine Replacement Therapy free for callers who are ready to work on quitting tobacco and may need extra help combating cravings during the initial quitting period. 

Two weeks of free, short-acting nicotine products, the nicotine gum and lozenge, are now available to work along with the use of the nicotine patch.  

The prescription medication bupropion is available for a small co-pay to provide extra help in overcoming cravings and withdrawal symptoms. 

The Quit Line is free and open seven days a week and can be reached by calling toll-free 800-QUIT-NOW (784-8669). 

The Lincoln County Public Health Nurse and Libby Community Interagencies are partnering to bring free Tobacco Quit Kits to individuals wishing to quit during the Great American Smokeout.  

Kits consist of educational information and hard candy and may be picked up from the Public Health Nurses offices in Eureka or Libby.

— Micki Carvey

County Health Nurse