News from the Wyoming Department of Health
Wyoming Ready to Help Smokers as National Anti-Smoking Campaign Airs
The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) is prepared to help Wyoming smokers who are ready to quit as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) begins a new round of advertising for its hard-hitting “Tips from Former Smokers” campaign.
The new ads will run for the next four-five months and are expected to be viewed by Wyoming residents. The CDC describes the multimedia campaign as telling stories of how real people’s lives were changed forever due to smoking. Smoking-related health conditions that people don’t commonly associate with cigarette use are featured.
“These ads are graphic and can be tough to watch,” said Joe D’Eufemia, Tobacco Prevention Program manager with WDH. “But they are sharing critical messages about smoking’s dangers.” Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States, killing about 480,000 Americans each year according to the CDC. For every person who dies from a smoking-related disease, about 30 more people suffer at least one serious illness from smoking.
The CDC ads encourage smokers to call 1-800-QUIT NOW, which will connect Wyoming residents with the generous services offered by the Wyoming Quit Tobacco Program. “Residents who want to enroll or learn more about their options online may also visit www.quitwyo.org,” D’Eufemia said.
“It’s been shown time and again that people who want to quit smoking have a much higher chance for success if they have a plan that includes tools such as medication or nicotine replacement gum or patches, combined with some sort of coaching or similar support,” D’Eufemia said.
Wyoming’s program offers free nicotine replacement therapy for those who medically qualify and will also cover a significant portion of the costs for prescription medications meant to help individuals quit. Phone or online support is also available at no cost to Wyoming residents.
D’Eufemia said nearly 70 percent of smokers say they want to quit. “In Wyoming, we want them to know we will help them when they are ready,” he added.
For more information about the “Tips from Former Smokers” campaign, visit www.cdc.gov/tips.
