Members of the Alliance for a Healthier Indiana coalition have invited public health advocates to express their support of an increase in Indiana’s cigarette tax. The Senate Appropriations Committee will be voting on the state’s budget, HB 1001, March 30.

Along with adequate funding for evidence-based treatment services and a comprehensive tobacco prevention program, increasing the price of tobacco is a proven strategy for reducing the burden of tobacco use at the state level.  Indiana’s adult smoking rate has remained around 25% for several years, and a relatively low tobacco tax is partially responsible.

Increasing the price of tobacco has been proven to encourage current tobacco users to use less and others—especially those with lower incomes—to quit completely.  It also has a strong effect on preventing children from starting.

According to the Alliance for a Healthier Indiana, “increasing the price of tobacco is the single most effective method for decreasing smoking rates — especially in those under age 18. A 10% increase in the real price of cigarettes would reduce the number of kids who smoke by 6-7% and the number of pregnant women who smoke pregnant women by 7% — and result in $1.4 billion in long-term health care savings, all while adding more than $200 million in new revenue that could be used for boosting Indiana’s cessation efforts and programs.

For more information about how to talk to your elected officials about this issue, visit this page from the Alliance for a Healthier Indiana.

To learn more about HealthNet’s Tobacco Cessation Program, please click here.

However, when a tobacco user adds professional counseling to their quit plan, they are significantly more likely to quit for good.  These are just a few of the benefits of working with a trained tobacco cessation coach.

1.  Learn what will help—and what won’t!

People use tobacco for different reasons, at different times, and in different ways.  They also have different experiences with quitting and starting again.  A counselor can help you discover patterns to your smoking or dipping and suggest quitting methods and healthy alternatives based on your personal relationship with tobacco.  A counselor can help you avoid wasting time on methods that may not be helpful.

2.  Get educated about quitting.

A counselor can give you current, science-based information about a number of topics related to tobacco use, such as health risks, stress management, secondhand smoke, nicotine withdrawal, and more.  Use the information you get from your counselor to design your quit plan and keep you motivated.

3.  Get advice on medication.

In addition to a personal quit plan, many tobacco users benefit from using FDA-approved medication to help them be successful in their quit attempt.

A counselor can answer questions about these medicines and help you decide which ones may be helpful for you based on your lifestyle, preference, and previous experiences with quitting.

4.  Find support and encouragement.

Everyone trying to quit tobacco should have at least one person who can encourage them when things get tough and celebrate their successes.  Many tobacco users have friends or family members who seem supportive, but when the rubber hits the road, they are not so helpful.  They hinder their loved one’s progress by nagging, enabling, or having unrealistic expectations about the process.  For these people, a tobacco cessation counselor is their main source of consistent, constructive, and compassionate support throughout their quitting journey.

If you or someone you know is interested in quitting tobacco, you can get FREE counseling by enrolling with the Quit Tobacco Program at HealthNet. To learn more, call 317-957-2007 or click here.

Myth 1:  I have to set a quit date.

Fact:  Some quit smoking programs require people to set a quit date—usually two to four weeks down the road—to give them time to prepare to quit.  During this time, people get support from friends, clean their houses and cars, and practice doing other activities instead of smoking.  However, this is not the only way to quit.  The Quit Tobacco Program at HealthNet does not require people to set a quit date.  Instead, many people choose to begin using medicines and practicing alternatives to smoking before quitting for good.

Myth 2:  I have to stop smoking before I can take medicine to help me stop smoking.

Fact:  New research tells us it is safe to continue to smoke a little while getting started with nicotine medicine.  Talk to your doctor or quit smoking counselor to make a personal plan that will help you reduce and then quit smoking.

Myth 3:  Using nicotine medicine is like trading one addiction for another.

Fact:  Nicotine medicine is designed to satisfy part of the brain’s craving for nicotine so it is more comfortable to go without using tobacco.  Always use nicotine medicine according to the package directions or a doctor or counselor’s advice.  It may take several weeks or even months of using nicotine medicines until you feel ready to be nicotine free.  Then you can gradually reduce the amount of nicotine you get.  Working with a doctor or counselor can help you make a plan to stop using nicotine medicines.

Myth 4:  I have tried all the medicines out there to help me quit.

Fact:  There are seven medicines approved by the FDA to help people quit smoking, and most people have not used them all.  Five medicines contain nicotine.  These are patches, gum, lozenges, inhaler, and nasal spray.  Two other medicines are pills that help reduce the urge to smoke.  Chantix and Wellbutrin work differently but they both require a prescription.  Talk to your doctor about the best option for you.

Myth 5:  I have failed too many times before.  I am doomed to smoke forever.

Fact:  You may feel frustrated if you have quit tobacco and started again many times.  But there is good news!  The more times you try to quit, the more likely you are to eventually be able to quit for good.  Every time you go without tobacco, you learn more about your addiction and what does and does not help you avoid tobacco.  Most people who quit for life take at least five tries.  Working with a counselor and using medicine are two great ways to increase the chances your next quit attempt is your last!

For more information or to make a personal quitting plan, contact Linda Bundick, HealthNet’s Tobacco Cessation Counselor, at 317-957-2007. 

To learn more about HealthNet’s Quit Tobacco Program, click here. 

World No Tobacco Day is recognized by the World Health Organization each year and works to spread awareness and fight tobacco use around the world. This year the focus is on “Plain Packaging” which shows the dangers of using tobacco. Other countries around the world have already implemented plain packaging into law.

To learn more about World No Tobacco Day and the importance of plain packaging, please click here for a press release from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. 

If you are thinking about quitting tobacco and would like to learn more about HealthNet’s Quit Tobacco Program, please contact the HealthNet location nearest you.

Source:

1. Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/press_releases/post/2016_05_31_wntd

Post by Linda Bundick 

Click the links below to learn more about each product.

Combustible or Burned Tobacco:

You probably know about…
• Cigarettes
• Cigars
• Pipe tobacco

You may not have heard of…
• Cigarillos/Little Cigars/Brown Cigarettes
• Bidis
• Cloves/Kreteks
• Hookah

Smokeless or Spit Tobacco:

You probably know about…
• Chewing tobacco (plug, loose leaf, or twists)
• Moist snuff
• Dry snuff

Snus

You may not have heard of…
• Snus
• Dissolvable tobacco

Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS)

You probably know about…
• Electronic cigarettes

You may not have heard of…
• Vape pens/hookah pens

To learn more about these products, check out this presentation from Smoke Free Indy.

All forms of tobacco have health risks—even those marketed to be safer than cigarettes.  It is ALWAYS healthier to quit.  If you or someone you know is thinking of quitting, congratulations!  For help quitting, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or visit www.equitnow.com.

Post by Linda Bundick

Quitting is one of the best things you can do for your health—and your wallet!  It also can be scary, especially if you have quit before.  But there is good news!  As soon as you quit, your body starts to heal.  And every time you quit, you are closer to being tobacco-free for life!

Here are two tools to help you beat nicotine addiction for good!

1.  Double Your Chances of Quitting with Medicine

Seven medicines are approved by the FDA to make quitting more comfortable.  Five of these have nicotine, the addictive chemical in tobacco.  These medicines work by putting nicotine into the blood through the skin, helping reduce cravings.  The patch works slowly all day, so many people combine the patch with a faster-acting medicine like gum or inhaler.

• Nicotine patches (with or without prescription)

• Nicotine gum (with or without prescription)

• Nicotine lozenge (with or without prescription)

• Nicotine inhaler (prescription)

• Nicotine nasal spray (prescription)

Two medicines do not have nicotine.  They help reduce cravings by acting directly on the brain.

• Chantix (prescription)

• Buproprion SR (prescription)

Talk to your doctor about the best medicines for you, and be sure to get a prescription even if they are available over the counter.  Most insurance will help you get these medicines for a very low cost or even free if you have a prescription!

2.  Free Coaching from Quit Now Indiana

When you enroll, you can get a free starter pack of nicotine medicine if you have Medicaid, Medicare, or no insurance!

• Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW to talk to a coach who can help you make a plan to beat nicotine cravings and stay tobacco-free for life!

• Visit www.equitnow.com to web chat with a coach and use online tools.

• Ask your phone or web coach about Text2Quit, which sends you personalized   messages through your quit journey!

For questions about these or other tobacco cessation tools, please contact Linda Bundick, HealthNet’s Tobacco Cessation Coordinator at lbundick@iuhealth.org or 317-957-2007.

Post by Linda Bundick

Electronic cigarettes or “e-cigarettes” have been in the U.S since 2006 and are becoming a popular replacement for tobacco smoking due to smoke-free laws banning tobacco use in public places and because more people who smoke want to quit. But, are electronic cigarettes safe? What is known about electronic cigarettes and do they help people stop smoking tobacco? The answers to these questions range from, “we don’t know” to “maybe”.

Electronic cigarettes are designed to mimic smoking a tobacco product such as cigarette, cigar or pipe. They are a type of nicotine delivery system without the need to “light up”. Nicotine is the substance that the body craves when someone starts smoking tobacco causing tobacco addiction. These electronic smoking type devices have an LED light that simulates lit tobacco during puffing, while an internal heating element operated by a battery vaporizes liquid nicotine contained in a cartridge. The user exhales a vapor similar to that of smoking tobacco.

The nicotine inside electronic cigarettes comes in a variety of flavors and colors. This has been mistaken as a type of flavored drink by small children. There are reports of children becoming poisoned by drinking the flavored nicotine liquid. Studies have also shown that adolescents and teens have reported using electronic cigarettes which experts fear will lead youth to the use of traditional tobacco products.

The safety of electronic cigarettes is not clear. The components of e-cigarettes are not regulated by the FDA.  Some studies have shown that products labeled as without nicotine actually did have nicotine and studies have also identified toxins and cancer causing substances present in the vapor of e-cigarettes causing health problems like increased risk for lung infections and reduced lung capacity. The long term effects of e-cigarette use is unknown because they are new and no long term studies have been completed.

Many people use electronic cigarettes as a way to stop smoking tobacco cigarettes. While there are studies that show some people are able to stop smoking tobacco, they continue to use electronic cigarettes and have an increased risk for health problems related to e-cigarette use. Studies have also shown people who use electronic cigarettes as a way to stop smoking tobacco have a higher rate of relapse and restart tobacco use. Some people have reported dual use of both e-cigarettes and tobacco products raising the concern about the long term use and health risks of using both products.

In summary, there is much more research that needs to be completed to learn about the effects of electronic cigarette before it can be said that e-cigarettes are harmful or safe for people and if they can help people stop smoking tobacco. Initial reports suggest more harm than good. The most important message is if you don’t smoke tobacco or use electronic cigarette type products don’t start and if you do, talk to your Health Care Provider about proven methods and resources available to help you quit.

HealthNet has a Tobacco Cessation Coordinator that can help you quit smoking. We can also help with free nicotine replacement therapy, like the patch or gum if you need it. Make a FREE appointment at a HealthNet Health Center near you today! 

Post by Dan Wilson, RRT, CPFT, AE-C

This desire to quit comes with good reason. The benefits of quitting smoking seem almost endless:

• Cost – someone who smokes 1 pack a day can save more $2000 per year when they quit
• Lowered risk of tobacco related illnesses, including asthma, COPD, chronic bronchitis, several forms of cancer, heart disease, etc. (quitting smoking can add up to 10 years to someone’s life)
• More energy
• Decreasing the emission of second-hand smoke which can harm others (especially children and pets) and the environment
• Better oral hygiene
• Lower medical and dental bills
• Can serve as a healthy role model to children, grandchildren, friends, etc.

The list goes on. Despite these benefits there are still 45 million American adults who smoke. Why? Because quitting smoking is extremely difficult. Perhaps even more difficult than quitting smoking is staying quit.

Most people have heard the Mark Twain quote, “Quitting smoking is easy – I’ve done it a thousand times.”

This statement is profoundly true.

The journey of quitting smoking does not end the day a person stops smoking. It doesn’t end 2 weeks after someone quits, or 2 months, or 2 years. Quitting smoking is a lifelong journey. It’s a very complex battle of physiological, psychological, and social addictions.

However, the intent of this article is not to be discouraging, but encouraging. There is always hope! And despite the difficulties of quitting smoking, more than 48 million Americans have successfully quit!

Research continually shows that when you have a plan and some support, you increase your chances of successfully quitting smoking and staying quit.

In honor of the Great American Smokeout on Thursday, November 20, 2014, here are some practical tips for preparing to quit. 

1. Make a list of all the reasons you want to quit. Keep it in your pocket, tape it to your bathroom mirror, or place it on the refrigerator. Keep this list close to you as a constant reminder of why you’re choosing to be smoke-free.
2. Decide on a quit date. This is a very important step for most people. This allows you to pick a concrete date and to prepare each day leading up to it. Choose a date within the next 1-4 weeks.   You want to give yourself enough time to prepare, but not too much time to change your mind. Some people choose special dates such as birthdays, anniversaries or holidays to add special meaning to it.
3. Make a strategy. Decide whether you want to quit cold turkey or use a medication to help quit. While there’s no magic pill or medication that will force you to quit smoking, the FDA has approved several medications which are designed to decrease nicotine withdrawal. These medications can serve as powerful tools to help you quit. If you’re interested, talk to your doctor or Tobacco Cessation Specialist about what options are available.
4. Remove ashtrays and cigarettes from your home, car, work, etc. This can be an intimidating process, but it is absolutely necessary! If you keep even one cigarette ‘just in case’, you will likely smoke it. Don’t taunt yourself like that; just get rid of it all.
5. Stock up on substitutes. Oral substitutes like sugarless gum, cinnamon sticks, mints, hard candy, carrot or celery sticks, straws, etc. can help you transition from the hand-to-mouth habit of smoking a cigarette.
6. Rethink your routines. Smoking is generally built into a routine, such as morning coffee, after meals, while driving, hanging around certain friends who smoke, etc. Think about changing some of these routines. Drink tea instead of coffee or change the order of your morning routine. Take a different route to work and avoid certain people/situations temporarily if needed. 
7. Elicit support. Tell your trusted friends and family about your plan to quit and communicate with them how they can help you through this process. Give them warning that over the next several weeks you may be cranky. They will appreciate this forewarning.
8. Practice saying, “No thank you, I don’t smoke.” Practice this! You cannot live in a bubble the rest of your life. You will likely be offered a cigarette at some point, so be prepared to say no.  You are smoke-free and it is a great thing!

A few tips once your quit day arrives:

• Stay active – go walking, join a gym, do short bursts of exercise, etc.
• Partake in new hobbies and spend time with others who don’t smoke
• Drink lots of water
• Avoid situations where you know the urge to smoke will be strong
• Drink less alcohol or avoid it completely
• Do not smoke.  Not even one puff – you are smoke-free!

Post by Stacey Chappell

March 19 marks the 19^th annual Kick Butts Day! 

What exactly is Kick Butts Day? 

This day was marked by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids to encourage youth to take a stand against ‘Big Tobacco’.  Youth and adults nationwide are encouraged to contribute to this cause by raising awareness of tobacco companies’ deceptive marketing strategies toward youth, reaching out to elected representatives about this issue, and ultimately advocating for others to remain tobacco-free.

What’s the issue?

According to the U.S. Surgeon General, more than 600,000 middle school students and 3 million high school students smoke cigarettes.  An estimated 18% of Indiana high school students smoke, and while approximately 1,200 people die each day from a tobacco-related illness, at least twice as many young people will become regular smokers on a daily basis.

Tobacco companies are smart.  The nicotine found in tobacco is extremely addictive and once a young person becomes addicted, tobacco companies will likely have a lifelong customer.  They understand that youth and young adults are prime targets for their products, and thus pour millions of dollars per day into relentless marketing efforts.

What can you do?

Check out the official Kick Butts Day website for more information and activities you can participate in.

For more information about HealthNet’s Smoking Cessation program, please visit www.indyhealthnet.org or call a HealthNet location near you.

What is the Great American Smokeout (GASO)?

The Great American Smokeout (GASO) is a nationwide event held each year on the third Thursday of November.  The goal of GASO is to encourage people who smoke to give up their cigarettes for one day.  The hope is that they will continue to stay quit!

History of GASO

The concept of GASO began in the 1970’s when people in Randolph, Massachusetts were asked to give up cigarettes for one day and donate the money they saved to a high school scholarship.

The idea escalated from there.  In 1976, nearly 1 million people quit smoking during GASO in California alone!  Since then not only have millions of people quit smoking, but smoking bans have taken place in businesses, cities and states nationwide.

Why quit?

The human body starts recovering from any damage caused by smoking almost immediately after quitting.  Below is a chart from the American Cancer Society that shows details of how the body heals itself after one quits smoking.

How to quit?

Research shows that the chances of quitting and staying quit drastically increase when help is sought, whether it be a medication, support group, or smoking cessation program.  Below are some online resources for quitting.

Guide to Quitting Smoking

Smoke-free Countdown Clock

Cost Calculator

Smoke-free Journey

For more information on HealthNet’s FREE Tobacco Cessation Program, make an appointment at a HealthNet location near you.