Whether it’s due to a New Year’s resolution, or new laws banning tobacco use on Oregon state property, many Oregonians are trying to kick the tobacco habit.
Klamath County Senior Community Health Nurse Kathy Devoss quit smoking ‘cold turkey’ 30 years ago for very personal reasons…
“I quit smoking because I had three miscarriages, and I wanted a baby.”
There’s more options for quitting tobacco today than there were 30 years ago. Nicotine patches, nicotine gum, prescription medications like ‘Chantix’, acupuncture, hypnosis, and even i-Phone apps.
However, Molly Jespersen of the Klamath County Health Department notes that there are also more ways to get hooked on tobacco…
“The thing that’s most new and emerging are the different tobacco products that we’re seeing out on the market. We’re seeing electronic cigarettes, flavored tobacco, hookahs – the list goes on, and on, and on.”
Devoss cautions that there’s no specific product or method that’s a ‘silver bullet’ for quitting…
“I think the first magic bullet is going to be the desire to want to quit in the first place.”
And if you’re serious about quitting, Jespersen notes that help is available: www.quitnow.net/oregon
“A great place to start is the Oregon quit line. Just call 1-800-QUIT-NOW.”
Not everyone is successful at quitting the first time…but whether you go ‘cold turkey’, or have an assist, Devoss says quitting is worth it…
“There are absolutely no advantages to being a smoker.”
It’s estimated that about 1 in 4 adults in Klamath County are tobacco users…a factor that has led to Klamath County being listed as one of Oregon’s ‘unhealthiest’ counties.
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