Help to quit smoking available

By PAMELA BRUST ( pbrust@newsandentinel.com ) , Parkersburg News and Sentinel

PARKERSBURG Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department officials outlined a number of no cost cessation programs available to those who want to stop smoking.

"We get inquiries from people who say the health department has these no smoking regulations, but how can you get help to stop smoking. That's why we invited you here today, to talk about some of the programs that are available," commission President Blair Couch said.

Meeting with the commission Thursday were Dick Wittberg, health department director; Jamie Jacobsen, regional tobacco prevention coalition coordinator; and Carrie Brainard, public relations and former tobacco prevention specialist.

"There are a number of no cost options available to those who want to stop smoking or stop using smokeless tobacco including the Quit Line, which is a free service to anyone in West Virginia. The Quit Line offers free counseling, provides general information, patches, gun and lozenges, all at no cost. If you want to attend smoking cessation classes, if we can enough people together, which is generally five or six, we can offer a smoking cessation class. These are at no cost to the participants," Jacobsen said. The Quit Line number is 1-877-966-8784.

"We can do the Freedom from Smoking Class with the American Lung Association; First Start Program from the American Cancer Society. There is a Mayo Clinic program. There is an ALA online class that people can do on their own, if they want to do that. There is a program geared for teenagers, Not on Tobacco, which has two versions. I can go into the schools if they want to do that," Jacobsen said.

She showed the county officials kits she receives, which contain tobacco prevention products, called Back Off.

"This contains an herbal supplement made from tea leaves, which can help people stop using snuff. You mix it in and gradually cut back on the amount of snuff being used until you can get off the smokeless tobacco entirely. This product can also be ordered online. I know people who have found it be very useful in quitting," Jacobsen said.

"I go to a lot of health fairs and expos. I drop information off at area doctor's officers, talk to kids and adults, providing information on quitting," she said.

"Smoking is the No. 1 preventable cause of death in this nation," Wittberg said. "West Virginia ranks number two in smokers per capita and No. 1 in pregnant women who smoke."

The Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department's Tobacco Prevention Program is funded by the state Division of Tobacco Prevention through a grant from the CDC and the state's master settlement money. Jacobsen works in the six-county area and her offices are based at 211 Sixth St., Parkersburg.

According to the Center for Disease Control, 26.9 percent of adults in West Virginia still smoke, ranking the state the highest in the nation. Among 12-17-year-olds, 12.6 percent smoke. Last year, the CDC said the number of smokeless tobacco users is rising. More than 430,000 people in 50 states were surveyed. While 23 percent of males smoke, 18.3 percent of females smoke.

For more information on smoking cessions options or general information, go to the health department's website at www.movhd.com or call the Parkersburg office at 304-485-7374.

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