Are you ready to be a quitter?
The Cost of Smoking
This year, invest in your health instead of cigarettes. The average pack of cigarettes in Washington State costs $10.14 and average cigarette consumption among daily smokers is 12 cigarettes. This means that the average smoker spends approximately $6.05 per day on cigarettes. This cost adds up quickly to over $2000 per year for an average smoker, not to mention the cost smoking has to a person’s health since cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease, disability and death in the United States.
Freedom from Smoking®
Quitting smoking isn’t easy but it is easier with the right help. Island Health sees the need for smoking cessation support in the community. Beginning in January 2024, a seven-week Freedom From Smoking group quitting program will be offered for anyone who is currently smoking and wants support to quit. The American Lung Association developed this evidence-based program to provide a systematic and positive approach to quitting. This program will help participants develop a plan of action that leads to their quit day. Since this is a group-based program, those who participate also get the social support necessary to remain smoke-free for life! Over the course of seven weeks the following objectives will be achieved by participants:
- Make lifestyle changes to make quitting easier
- Implement coping strategies for managing stress and avoiding weight gain
- Increase quitting success with medication management
- Develop a new self-image
- Stay smoke-free for good
Pop Quiz!
Is Freedom from Smoking® right for you?
- Do you want to quit?
- Is quitting a priority for you?
- Have you tried to quit before?
- Do you want to improve your health and your family’s health, too?
- Do you want to feel better and more in control of your life?
If you answered “YES” to even one of these questions, you owe it to yourself to find out how the Freedom From Smoking program can help you live a healthier life.