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Welcome to Oak Hill's Tobacco Free Environment Plan & Policy Information Page |
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"Breathe Easy"
"BE"
*** BE HEALTHY *** BE FREE OF SMOKE
Oak Hill supports the American Cancer Society in joining efforts to provide information and messages to help our employees stay well and reduce their risk of developing cancer and other tobacco-related illnesses. *******************************************
Benefits of Quitting Smoking:
Many people who quit smoking are surprised at how good they feel. To read about the many benefits of quitting smoking, click here!
Put a Stop to Smoky Thinking:
It can be easy to lose site of the benefits of quitting smoking when a strong craving for a cigarette hits. If you are giving yourself a reason to smoke, you are most likely experiencing an episode of smoky thinking. Guard against your smoky thinking with a positive clear thinking response using the following list: Click here for the list!
Take the Secondhand Smoke Quiz:
How much do you know about secondhand smoke? Take this quiz to learn more about the dangers of it! Click here!
New Warning Labels for Cigarettes:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has finalized nine very graphic images that will be required to appear on all cigarette packs and cartons. Some of these images include a man with a cigarette in his hand and smoke billowing out of a hole in his throat and another shows a pair of lungs ravaged by tobacco use. Click here to continue reading!
When smokers quit--What are the benefits over time?:
20 minutes after quitting
(Effect of smoking on arterial stiffness and pulse pressure amplification, Mahmud A, Feely J. 2003. Hypertension: 41:183)
12 hours after quitting
(US Surgeon General's Report, 1988, p.202)
2 weeks to 3 months after quitting
(US Surgeon General's Report, 1990, pp.193, 194, 196, 285, 323)
1 to 9 months after quitting
mucus out of the lungs) start to regain normal function in the lungs, increasing the ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce the risk of infection. (US Surgeon General's Report, 2010, p. 359)
1 year after quitting
(US Surgeon General's Report, 2010, p. 359)
To read more benefits of quitting smoking over time, click here!
* * * These are just a few of the benefits of quitting smoking for good. Quitting smoking lowers the risk of diabetes, lets blood vessels work better, and helps the heart and lungs. Quitting while you are younger will reduce your health risks more, but quitting at any age can give back years of life that would be lost by continuing to smoke.
Why Should I Quit ???:
Your Health: "Health concerns usually top the list of reasons people give for quitting smoking. This is a very real concern: smoking harms nearly every organ of the body. Half of all smokers who keep smoking will end up dying from a smoking-related illness. In the United States alone, smoking is responsible for nearly 1 in 5 deaths, and about 8.6 million people suffer from smoking-related lung and hear diseases." To read more on "Why Should I Quit", click here!
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Why is it So Hard to Quit Smoking ???:
"Mark Twain said, "'Quitting smoking is easy. I've done it a thousand times.'" Maybe you've tried to quit, too. Why is quitting and staying quit hard to do for so many people? The answer is Nicotine!"
Nicotine: "Nicotine is a drug found naturally in tobacco. It is as addictive as heroin or cocaine. Over time, a person becomes physically dependent on and emotionally addicted to nicotine. The physical dependence causes unpleasant withdrawal symptoms when you try to quit. The emotional and mental dependence (addiction) make it hard to stay away from nicotine after you quit. Studies have shown that smokers must deal with both physical and mental dependence to quit and stay quit." To read further: "Why it is So Hard to Quit Smoking", click here! *********************************************
A Happy and Healthy New Year As the end of the year approaches, many of us begin to reflect on the events of this past year and start to contemplate what our New Year’s resolution will be. If you’re a smoker, consider quitting. The prospect of better health is a major reason for quitting, but there are other reasons, too. Smoking is expensive. It isn't hard to figure out how much you spend on smoking. The average cost of a pack of cigarettes in Connecticut is $7.45. Multiply how much money you spend on tobacco every day by 365 (days per year). The amount may surprise you. A pack a day smoker, on average, will spend $2719.25 on cigarettes each year. Now multiply that by the number of years you have been using tobacco and that amount will probably shock you. Multiply the cost per year by 10 (for the next 10 years) and ask yourself what you would rather do with that much money. And this doesn't include other possible costs, such as the cost of breath mints, cough drops, and cleaning expenses for your clothes, home, and car. And on top of these savings, you and your family will benefit even more over time as you avoid the many medical costs from doctor visits and medications associated with the diseases and other health issues caused by smoking or by exposure to secondhand smoke.Quitting is not easy, so reward yourself. Put the money you would have spent on tobacco in a jar every day and then buy yourself a weekly treat. Buy a magazine or book, go out to eat, develop a new hobby, or take a yoga class. Or put the money in the bank or start an account with Newington VA Credit Union through payroll deduction and save for a major purchase or take that great vacation you always dreamed about. The possibilities are endless. Tomorrow begins today. What will you reflect on this time next year……………
******************************************* TOBACCO FREE ENVIRONMENT
INFORMATION FOR STAFF
Oak Hill’s mission statement states that Oak Hill “sets the standard for providing services and supports for people with disabilities”. We also strive to set the standard as an employer regarding our obligation to provide a safe environment for all employees. We have found that tobacco use has placed program participants and employees at risk for harm. Several program locations, including campus, have suffered fires due to cigarettes being improperly extinguished. Nonsmokers have complained about working near smoking areas where the smell and smoke permeates the buildings as well as second hand smoke. To read the rest of the document, click here!
******************************************* Latest Success Story Michael Champlin, Behavior Specialist (Oak Hill School)
Mike’s Story - Tobacco-Free for 7 months
About a year ago, Mike was asked to serve on Oak Hill’s Tobacco-Free Environment Committee. It was important to the committee to hear from people who smoke. It helped to gain valuable insights. A few months later, Mike quit and has been tobacco-free since April 2011.
“I started when I was in high school, about 17 years
old. I’d ask my friends for cigarettes. It didn’t matter the brand, it was
whatever they had. When I was older, I bought my own. I liked Camel Lights
and smoked about a pack a day for the next 15 years. I found smoking
cigarettes relaxed me. When it was a beautiful sunny day, I’d want to go
outside and enjoy a cigarette. I find stress triggers my desire to smoke.
During my breaks at work, I’d go outside to smoke.
I was married three years ago and my wife asked me to stop smoking. If she hadn’t asked, I’d still be smoking. I enjoy it and always felt fine about it. She really wanted me to quit and I wanted make her happy. I decided to try Chantix (an oral medication) for a week. It worked very well. I felt good so I decided to stop taking it. A few weeks later, I was craving a cigarette, so I had one. One led to another and then I was back smoking again. I decided to try the nicotine patch. While wearing it, I still had cravings and found it uncomfortable to wear. It was itchy so I stopped wearing it and started smoking again.
After my two failed attempts to quit, my wife suggested I try being hypnotized. We went to a hypnotist in Glastonbury. My wife was hoping it would work. I thought the idea was a ‘crock’ but didn’t want to disappoint her or waste the $160 it cost. The hypnotist asked me to sign a contract. He recorded our session and showed my wife and me several public service announcements about the dangers of smoking. I thought the videos were ridiculous. He also asked me to do breathing exercises. I’d inhale while counting to 4; hold my breath while counting to 8, then exhale while counting to 7. I thought the numbers were nonsense, but understood the counting was used as a distraction. During my visit, the hypnotist would say, “Do you feel relaxed?” I would lie and say, “Yes.” I was playing along with him because I didn’t want to hurt his feelings. When my wife and I left his office, he sent me home with breathing instructions and a special diet. He asked me to eat 4 oranges a day for the first week; something about the citric acid in the oranges. It was a horrible experience. I continued to do my breathing exercises several times a day. I still thought about smoking, but I never did. After 2 months, I stopped thinking about smoking each day. I was feeling better about it.
I slipped up twice. Each occasion was with good friends; once at a Bachelor party, the second at a wedding. Each time, I was back on the next day. I quit on April 4th (day after Easter). It’s been 7 months and I feel great. I’m happy I’m not smoking. I’m saving money, too. I used to get winded when I went upstairs to visit the group home office, not anymore. My wife is very happy and tells me frequently.”
Mike’s advice to others: “Try Chantix, but stay on it for at least three weeks. Just keep trying!” Mike shared this quote: “Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world. I know because I've done it thousands of times.” - Mark Twain
By the way, Mike has saved an estimated $1,700 since quitting in April.
Click For More Success Stories
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Resources
********** Benefits of a Tobacco-Free Workplace ********** ********** ********** Double Your Chances of Quitting Tobacco ********** Great American Smoke Out® Poster ********** ********** ********** ********** United Healthcare/Oxford Program
Cessation Information
********** ********** Tobacco Use Cessation Programs in CT ********** Why Is It So Hard To Quit Smoking? ********** ********** **********
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