Tobacco use is the largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in Alaska, and if a Juneau resident is ready to quit, a free program that starts at the end of the month could prove to be a good starting point.
The SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) is making The American Lung Association’s Freedom from Smoking program available for free, starting Thursday, Oct. 26. The seven-week program begins at 5:15 p.m. that day, and will be held at the same time every Thursday at SEARHC’s Behavioral Health Building through Dec. 7.
The program teaches strategies and skills to help people overcome their addiction and become non-smokers in a small group environment. Statistics from the program show that people who complete the program are six times more likely to stay smoke-free one year later than those who quit on their own.
Tobacco use causes nearly 600 deaths per year, according to SEARHC, which is more than suicide, motor vehicle crashes, chronic liver disease, homicide and HIV/AIDS combined. SEARHC Tobacco Program Health Educator Leah Neff Warner is available to answer questions at 364-4549 or leaht@searhc.org.
