This press release published at the request of the Florida Department of Health in Alachua County.
The Florida Department of Health in Alachua County (FDOH-Alachua) is encouraging Floridians on the American Cancer Society’s 44th annual Great American Smokeout (Thursday, November 21, 2019), to use Tobacco Free Florida’s free tools and services and make a plan to quit smoking.
Tobacco Free Florida aims to educate Floridians on the various free quit resources available in the state and support them through the process – on the Great American Smokeout and year-round.
“Whether it’s setting a quit date or creating a plan to quit, the Great American Smokeout is an important day for those looking to eliminate tobacco products from their lives,” said FDOH-Alachua Health Policy Specialist Demetra Pantelis. “By hosting Great American Smokeout events at your work, school, or organization, you can show support for your peers who are interested in creating a healthier future for themselves free of tobacco. Any day is a great day to quit tobacco, but hopefully, the Great American Smokeout can be that day for many people in our community.”
Most adult cigarette smokers say that they want to quit, but quitting smoking is hard and may require several attempts. Creating a quit plan and using proven-effective resources, like Tobacco Free Florida, can significantly increase chances of quitting smoking for good. Smokers can and do quit smoking. Today, there are more former smokers than current smokers in Florida.
Tobacco Free Florida’s Quit Your Way program offers free Phone Quit, Group Quit, and Web Quit services. They also offer individual tools like texting support, a Quit Guide, and helpful emails. Free nicotine replacement therapy (nicotine patches, gum, or lozenges) are available to tobacco users who are 18 or older, if medically appropriate.
Visit the Quit Your Way website.
For more information, contact the Quit your Way Communications Office at 850-245-411 or NewsMedia@flhealth.gov.